New laws hold managers liable for death of employees, warns FPB


WORKSHOPS and garages need to start preparing for April 6 when the Corporate Manslaughter Act becomes law, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is warning.

The business organisation is advising workshops and garages to review their health and safety procedures in order to better protect employees, customers and contractors in preparation for the new law coming into force.

The rules mean company directors can be held liable if their management practices cause a person’s death or amount to a gross breach of their duty of care.

Workshop owners could also be hit with an unlimited fine and publicity orders to expose a firm’s wrongdoing.

"Businesses should also take out directors’ and officers’ liability insurance cover," recommended the FPB spokesman Philip Moody.

"It is important that small firms act now to protect themselves, their employees, customers and contractors, or face paying the price further down the line,” he added.