Corporate Manslaughter Act 'puts company car drivers at risk'

The Act will place greater responsibility on firms to ensure that they put in place stringent health and safety procedures. Failure to do so could lead to a business being publicly 'named and shamed' and fined up to 10 per cent of its annual turnover should a death occur as a result of 'gross management failure'.

"Because of the relatively high instances of road fatalities, business owners in the transport industry - and those who provide company cars - should make sure their employees are fully aware of health and safety best practice," said FPB policy representative Matt Goodman. "The Corporate Manslaughter Act means that they must establish clear health and safety procedures and monitor them, or face heavy fines and public censure."

FBP member John McGuiness said that many small businesses "are totally and utterly unaware of the potential issues that they face". He added: "They know about the Act itself, but are oblivious as to how it could impact on them. Small businesses will have to defend themselves in the event of a prosecution and it could take three or four years before the case is actually heard, during which time they are likely to have gone out of business. The stress will be unbearable and, even if they win, what recompense is there at the end of it?"

Source: British Safety Council

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• 26% reduction in road accidents*
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*The savings are estimated for each company driver who covers approximately 30,000 miles per year.

We provide specialist training for your company drivers in order to help you reduce risks to your employees and vehicles, reduce costs, and to help you comply with current Health and Safety regulations. We will help you as a company to identify risks in working practices, as well as helping your employees to identify risk factors in their own driving. Once risks have been identified, we can help you to reduce or eliminate them completely.