Legislation

Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into force across the United Kingdom from 6th April 2008.

The Act means that for the first time companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter if the manner in which their activities are managed or organised causes a death and amounts to a gross breach of a duty of care to the deceased. The legislation has been developed to send out a stark deterrent message to those organisations who do not take their health & safety responsibilities seriously.

What does it mean to you?

The aim of the act is to facilitate prosecution of those organisations that show a negligent attitude towards health & safety. The Act places an increased responsibility on organisations to meet current standards and legal duties. From 6th April 2008 the Act will mean that those who disregard the health & safety of others at work, with fatal consequences, are more vulnerable to serious criminal charges with a sanction on conviction by the way of an unlimited fine.

What should be done?

At present work related deaths on the roads are estimated to reach up to 1,000 each year and changes to corporate manslaughter laws could spell trouble for employers whose staff are involved in serious road accidents. Organisations need to reassess their compliance with current health & safety legislation and ensure that effective equipment, systems and practices are in place to manage risks.

Vision Techniques – How can we help?

Vision Techniques is one of the world’s premier suppliers of mobile CCTV and vehicle reversing safety aids.

For two decades, millions of lives have been entrusted to the care of Vision Techniques. From workers in hostile and hazardous environments to small children crossing the road, our award winning company has played a vital role in their protection.

The Corporate Manslaughter Act places increased responsibility on operators to implement initiatives to effectively manage road safety and should act as a stimulus to kick-start the implementation of duty of care measures.

Vision Techniques has a range of innovative solutions to assist in the management of occupational road risk and to help forward thinking organizations prevent fatalities and thereby avoid the sharp teeth of the new law.

Vision Techniques continual strives to create a safer working environment with high quality products at realistic costs, including the unique Banksman intelligent radar system. This system is the ultimate in vehicle reversing safety.

The Banksman intelligent radar detects obstructions whilst the vehicle is reversing. It emits an audible warning to alert the driver to impending obstructions, and used in conjunction with rear vision mobile CCTV, this prompts the driver to observe any detected obstructions in the cab monitor.

This is just one of the innovative solutions Vision Techniques offers to assist in the management of occupational road risk.