Date of article: 20/08/2007
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Safety campaigners are calling for a review of proposed legislation to ensure it includes the ability to jail negligent company directors.
Concerns over the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, currently in its final Parliamentary stages, arose as two men were jailed for a total of 21 months over the death of a 28-year-old worker at a concrete plant in Costessey, Norfolk.
Managing director Timothy Dighton and area manager Roy Burrows of the Concrete Company were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court last Thursday after pleading guilty to manslaughter on June 11. Mr Dighton also pleaded guilty to a string of breaches of health and safety regulations. Mr Dighton was sentenced to 12 months in prision while Mr Burrow received 9 months. The Concrete Company was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £89,000 in costs.
Batcher Christopher Meachen died in November 2005 after being caught in an unguarded slew conveyor, which carried aggregate sand to hoppers where concrete is made.
The joint investigation led by Norfolk Constabulary saw all sites owned by the company in the eastern region inspected by the Health & Safety Executive.
Mick Holder of the London Hazards Centre said: "The problem with the Corporate Manslaughter Bill is that it's not going to jail people. We need a review of legislation so that the Bill is backed by individual responsibility.
"The negligence in this case is no different to a number of other cases. And sentences don't reflect the true nature of the crime committed. If there were more of these sentences, employers would hear the message more clearly."
Construction union Ucatt echoed calls for stronger legislation. General secretary Alan Ritchie said: "The conviction of killer bosses is to be welcomed. Unfortunately such convictions are all too few and far between. With construction deaths rising by over 25 per cent last year far more needs to be done to make our industry safer.
"We urgently need the introduction of directors' duties so that individual bosses found guilty of negligence in their health and safety responsibilities can be sent to prison. The Bill will not save the life of a single building worker."
HSE deputy chief executive Justin McCracken said: "The HSE, where appropriate acting with other agencies such as the police, will act decisively to deal with employers who deliberately or negligently flout the law and put their employees' lives at risk."
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