Legal Responsibilities of Employers Health and safety law states that organisations must: Provide a written health and safety policy (if they employ five or more people); Assess risks to employees, customers, partners and any other people who could be affected by their activities; Arrange for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures; Ensure they have access to competent health and safety advice; Consult employees about their risks at work and current preventive and protective measures. Failure to comply with these requirements can have serious consequences - for both organizations and individuals.
Sanctions include fines, imprisonment and disqualification.
Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 an offence will be committed where failings by an organisation's senior management are a substantial element in any gross breach of the duty of care owed to the organisation's employees or members of the public, which results in death. The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and the court can additionally make a publicity order requiring the organisation to publish details of its conviction and fine.
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