24
Mar 2016
New Sentencing Guidelines Will Lead To More Risk Averse Behaviour
Terry Woolmer, head of health and safety policy for EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation, has stated that he believes the new sentencing guidelines will lead companies to adopt a risk averse landscape rather than drive health and safety forwards.
Terry is concerned that the new guidelines, rather than driving health and safety forward, could undo the positive progress of recent years.
Terry Woolmer stated,
“Too much emphasis is being placed on fines and the level of fines instead of ‘remedial orders’ to bring about lasting improvements to health and safety management systems and practices. Britain has one of the leading health and safety records in the world, yet the Sentencing Council has decided that companies and individuals could be subject to much higher levels of fine”.
The new sentencing guidelines have been in place for close to two months, and it remains to be seen whether larger fines will lead to a safer working environment, or whether Terry Woolmer’s prediction is correct, that the positive progress of recent years could be undone.
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