New Act comes into force
February 1st 2009 The Health and Safety Offences Act came into force this January signalling tougher penalties for those who breach health and safety regulations. The new Act raises the potential punishments available to the courts in relation to health and safety offences, quadrupling the maximum fine in the magistrates courts from £5k to £20k.
Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive, Geoffrey Podger, urged that, although the Act does not impose any new duties on employers or businesses, it will act as a real deterrent to those who do not take their health and safety responsibilities seriously.
“Our message to the many employers who do manage health and safety well is that they have nothing to fear from this change in law. We will retain the important safeguards that ensure that our inspectors use their powers sensibly and proportionately. We will continue to target those who cut corners, put lives at risk, and who gain commercial advantage over competitors by failing to comply with the law.”
DWP Minister Lord McKenzie suggested the Act should bring about faster justice: “It is generally accepted that the level of fines for some health and safety offences is too low. These changes will ensure that sentences can now be more easily set at a level to deter businesses that do not take their health and safety management responsibilities seriously and further encourage employers and others to comply with the law.
“Furthermore, by extending the £20,000 maximum fine to the lower courts and making imprisonment an option, more cases will be resolved in the lower courts and justice will be faster, less costly and more efficient. More articles from Health & Safety Executive: | 
