The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in conjunction with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) are to hold a seminar on 18 October 2006, at Loughborough University, Leicestershire, Road Deaths and Corporate Manslaughter – Fleet Impact, where speakers will provide information to bosses of fleets on how the new corporate manslaughter bill will affect them.
They will explain that the law, which will cover fatalities in the workplace, will also cover road deaths caused by organisations lack of care.
Charles Davis, RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions, said:
“Companies that pay scant regard to managing health and safety are on notice. The corporate manslaughter law will mean that, where safety failure has been particularly bad, corporations can be successfully prosecuted following work-related deaths due to their recklessness.
“Such cases will not be limited to fatal accidents in fixed workplaces, but will include cases of death on the road.
“Driving as part of the job is the most dangerous work-related activity performed by most people in the UK. Employers have a duty of care to their employees. They can’t just abdicate responsibility and blame crashes on the driver.
“Our seminar will help organisations to check out their arrangements for health and safety risk management and to learn about new developments.
“Those with the correct people, policies and procedures in place to manage occupational road risk need have nothing to fear. Indeed, they will be reaping the major business benefits that are available by addressing this as part of mainstream health and safety management.”
There will be many speakers at the seminar, including Barrister Gerard Forlin, who will outline the Corporate Manslaughter Bill, including its effect on fleets.
Explaining how the Road Death Investigation Manual is applied and the liaison between the Police and the Health and Safety Executive, will be speaker Chief Inspector Ian Brooks of the Metropolitan Police.
Further information on the seminar can be accessed from RoSPA's Website by clicking the following:
RoSPA : Road Death and Corporate Manslaughter Seminar
Article by Alexandra Johnston
