Law Weblog

Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 gets serious

Saturday 17 January 2009 at 6:49 am | In News | 3 Comments

The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 which came into forvce on 16th January makes three main changes

• increases the fines available to the courts
• imprisonment now available for more offences
• more cases triable either way (more cases will be open to an unlimited penalty)

train

Magistrates’ can now impose up to 12 months imprisonment and £20,000 fine for a breach of health and safety rules (This is an exception to the £5,000 and 6 months maximum that is usually found in text books). Those convicted on indictment face not only an unlimited fine but also a term of two years mprisonment.

These changes follow a series of cases where individuals have faced corporate manslaughter charges and have been convicted of the lesser health and safety offences and then faced only the very small fines available only in magistrates’ courts.

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1. … and, is this applicable to the NHS?

   Comment by anon — Sunday 18 January 2009 1:24 pm #

2. It is about time health and safety took its gloves off and dealt with cases with the vigour they deserve.

   Comment by David Kitchenham — Saturday 31 January 2009 11:29 am #

3. […] Law Weblog Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 gets serious Posted by root 5 hours ago (http://www.sixthform.info) It is about time health and safety took its gloves off and dealt with cases with the vigour they comment by david kitchenham saturday 31 january 2009 11 29 am powered by wordpress with pool theme design by borja fernandez Discuss  |  Bury |  News | Law Weblog Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 gets serious […]

   Pingback by Law Weblog Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 gets serious | Weak Bladder — Monday 8 June 2009 2:30 am #

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