David Watt, a top Director and Head of the Institute of Directors (IoD), has claimed in a statement, that a Corporate Homicide Bill in Scotland would deter business enterprises from setting up businesses in Scotland, or indeed would drive successful businesses to move to other countries.
He further claimed that deaths anyway in workplaces were more likely to occur due to carelessness or workers being under the influence, than by bosses who were negligent in their Health and Safety management.
Mr. Watt also said the majority of accidents in the workplace were caused by "human error at a lower level" and were "more likely to be attributable to alcohol than by individuals acting in a corrupt and homicidal manner."
Mr. Watt said:
“Nobody wants irresponsible corporate behaviour, but I do worry about the view that if something goes wrong it is the fault of the person at the top of the tree. We don’t need to witch-hunt individuals to actually get a reduction in that behaviour.
“We constantly seem to have a desire in this country to make doing business harder and to blame successful people for things.”
Mr. Watts' comments have outraged unions and campaigners who would welcome a Corporate Homicide Bill in Scotland.
Campaigner Spokesperson, Kathy Jenkins said:
"Is the IOD seriously suggesting that any decent society would allow directors and companies to get away with killing their workers as an incentive to encourage them to relocate or stay in Scotland?
"The IoD's fear mongering was wholly irresponsible, particularly in light of the large increase in workplace deaths in Scotland."
Dr David Whyte, a member of the Scottish Executive's Expert Group on Corporate Homicide, commented:
"In 10 years of studying corporate crime and regulation, I have never come across a shred of evidence that supports the argument that corporate killing laws in developed economies encourage companies to leave or directors to go and find another job.
"In Canada and in Australia, where recent laws have been introduced to deter corporate killers, there has been no capital flight.
"The Institute of Directors have spun a tale which is completely indefensible and is aimed at scaring the Scottish Executive into dropping the issue."
Mr. Ian Tasker, STUC Safety Officer said:
"There was no basis in fact for any of the IoD claims.
"These comments will be extremely distressing to the families of the thousands of workers who have lost their lives through workplace accidents or ill health and we would ask the Institute to support these views with strong statistical evidence."
Dr Dave Whyte, a Stirling University Lecture who sat in the Scottish Executives' expert group said:
“At the moment, directors can continue to commit serious offences and hide behind the company.”
Mr. Patrick McGuire, a partner in Thompsons law firm also a member of the expert group said:
“All decent companies who care for the safety of their employees will have nothing to fear from the legislation.”
It is surely very necessary for a Corporate Killing Bill to be introduced in Scotland as quickly as possible due to the massive increase in deaths within Scotland, making Scotland the most dangerous place in Britain to work.
The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) latest figures show fatal accidents at work have risen by 140% from the previous year.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
