Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event

Page created by Ernest Patel
 
CONTINUE READING
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Better Safe than Sorry
Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other
Developments in Health & Safety Law

                                                    Chris Green
                                                         Partner
                                            DDI: 0121 200 8125
                                          Mobile: 07894 462112
                                   chris.green@weightmans.com

© Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Captain EJ Smith (Captain of the Titanic):
“When any one asks me how I can best describe my
experiences of nearly forty years at sea I merely say
uneventful. Of course, there have been Winter gales and
storms and fog and the like, but in all my experience I have
never been in an accident of any sort worth speaking
about. I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years
at sea… . I never saw a wreck and have never been
wrecked, nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened
to end in disaster of any sort.
I will say that I cannot imagine any condition which could
cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital
disaster happening to this vessel. Modern shipbuilding has
gone beyond that.”
  © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
“It is true that, on the facts of a particular case,
   an accident-free period may be a factor that
   weighs in the balance – and may weigh heavily.
   However, [it is not the case] that a substantial
   period in which a risk did not in fact fruit into an
   accident means that the likelihood of the risk was
   not high. It all depends on the circumstances of
   the case.”

   [Hickinbottam LJ in R v Diamond Box Ltd [2017]
   EWCA Crim 1904]

© Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
HOT OFF THE PRESS
   ▪ Huge Fine for   ▪ Appealing   ▪ Nobody’s
     NHS Trust         Enforcement   Perfect
                       Notices

© Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press – Huge Fine for NHS Trust
R v Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust [2018]

▪ One epileptic patient drowned in a bath at a Short
  Term Treatment and Assessment Centre in Oxford
▪ One patient hanged herself with a phone cord at an
  Adult Mental Health Hospital in Southampton
▪ Against the background of a number of other alleged
  failings within the Trust around the same time
▪ A number of previous warnings
▪ Well-known risks within the industry

 © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press – Huge Fine for NHS Trust
R v Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust [2018]

▪ “Systemic failure within the organisation to address
  risks to health and safety”
▪ Both offences produced a high risk of death
▪ NHS Trust with limited and stretched finances with any
  potential fine having an effect on services

                       Fine = £2m

 © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press – Appealing Enforcement Notices
HSE v Chevron North Sea Ltd [2018]

▪ HSE Inspector served a Prohibition Notice on the access
  stairway to the helideck on an oil rig
   ▪ HSE said that corrosion rendered it weak and unsafe
▪ As a result, Chevron got the stairway independently tested
  – it complied with the BS strength test
▪ Chevron Appealed the Prohibition Notice to the
  Employment Tribunal

  © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press – Appealing Enforcement Notices
HSE v Chevron North Sea Ltd [2018]

▪ What Approach Should Tribunal take when considering
  appeal of Enforcement Notices?
   ▪ Chevron said Tribunal should consider all of the
     relevant facts – which could include the subsequent
     testing
   ▪ HSE said Tribunal should limit its considerations to
     information available to the Inspector at the time
▪ Case went to UK Supreme Court
  © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press – Appealing Enforcement Notices
The Supreme Court’s Judgement [2018] UKSC 7

▪ Key question for Tribunal is whether a risk actually existed
▪ No good reason for confining consideration to material
  available at the time
▪ If no risk actually existed, then Tribunal should cancel the
  Notice, even if Inspector had been fully justified in serving
  it on basis of the information at the time

                      Notice = Cancelled
   © Weightmans LLP
Better Safe than Sorry - Sentencing Health & Safety Breaches and Other Developments in Health & Safety Law - Health & Safety Event
Hot Off the Press - Nobody’s Perfect

© Weightmans LLP
HSE Crown Censure
▪ At HSL Buxton site

▪ Setting up an experimental pressure testing rig

▪ Prototype hydrogen storage vessel tested to see
  whether the design was suitable

▪ Whilst filling, a connector failed, releasing
  hydrogen under pressure, which ignited

▪ One worker suffered serious burns

▪ Investigated by HSE itself (conflict of interest?)

© Weightmans LLP
HSE Crown Censure – Findings of HSE Investigation
▪ HSE “co-operated fully with the investigation”
▪ Found “failings to assess, plan, manage and control a
  well-known risk of death of serious injury”
▪ “Incident could have been prevented by putting in place
  recognised control measures available in longstanding
  published guidance”
▪ Control measures for pressure testing are outlined in
  the HSE’s own guidance
▪ HSE “served itself with a Notification of Contravention,
  which requires it to pay a Fee for Intervention bill to
  cover the time that its inspectors spent on the case.”
▪ ©
  HSE   “took immediate action to resolve immediate issues
    Weightmans LLP
  identified”
Grenfell Tower

© Weightmans LLP
“actually we are maybe looking at a system failure, built up
over many years, which we now have to address urgently...”

“It is worth reminding ourselves here, that the primary issue
on those [four Camden] tower blocks was not the cladding. It
was the condition of the buildings themselves and the lack of
fire doors…”

“We may have to confront an awkward truth. That over many
years and perhaps against the backdrop of, as data shows, a
reduced risk in terms of fire, in terms of number of incidents
and deaths, that maybe as a system some complacency has
crept in. There is no room for that and Grenfell changes
everything.”

© Weightmans LLP
Dame Judith
▪   Rules not clear and too complex
▪   Roles and responsibilities in CDM
▪   Competency esp high rise
▪   Compliance enforcement and sanctions on Building
    Regs Residents concerns and rights Product
    Testing and QA methods

© Weightmans LLP
Immediate actions
A.   Review of Building Regs
B.   Competence in construction and inspection
C.   FRS early involvement in design process
D.   Building developers and handover to RP
E.   Building control bodies coordinate information
F.   Responsible person ANNUAL FRA review
G.   Government & industry to consider cladding safety

© Weightmans LLP
Also Note

▪ New Gas Safety Regulations

▪ New Rules on HMOs

© Weightmans LLP
Sample Fire Prosecution Cases
▪ R. v John Patrick O’Rourke
▪ New Look Retailers Limited v The London Fire and
  Emergency Planning Authority
▪ R. v Southwark Council
▪ Leicestershire Fire And Rescue Service v Mr Haresh
  Patel
▪ Hallmark Hotels Limited
▪ Sandhu and the Guidelines

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI)

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI)
▪ Allows HSE to charge companies £129/hr if in HSE
  Inspector’s opinion there is a “material breach” of
  health and safety law

▪ Does not include costs incurred once a case goes
  to Court

▪ Does not automatically mean no prosecution as
  well

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI)
Former System for Disputing Invoices

▪ Panel where 2 of the 3 members are HSE staff

▪ Negative view in industry (and from some within
  HSE)

▪ HSE Forced to change dispute system when
  permission to JR the system was granted by the
  High Court

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI)
▪ CD284 – “Consultation on a revised process for
  considering disputes under Fee for Intervention
  (FFI)”
▪ Consultation ended June 2017
▪ HSE has now produced its response to the
  Consultation results (available on its website).

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI) – New System
▪ 3 person panel
   ▪ Lawyer as chair (drawn from AG’s Civil Panel)
   ▪ 2 members “with practical experience of health
     and safety management”

▪ Procedure
   ▪ Usually disputes decided on papers – but can
     convene meeting if necessary
   ▪ No witness evidence

© Weightmans LLP
Fee For Intervention (FFI) – New System

▪ Key Point – “HSE will suspend the disputes process
  until the outcome of the [IN/PN] appeal or
  enforcement action is known”
▪ Still little information on how panel members
  appointed – will this be transparent?
▪ Expect lots of disputes early on to test the panel’s
  approach

© Weightmans LLP
Legal Professional Privilege
 and Internal Accident Investigations

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations
▪ HSE have powers under s20 HSWA to compel the
  production of documents

▪ Where a Accident Investigation is –
    1) Carried out by, or on the instructions of, a lawyer
    2) Carried out “for the sole or dominant purpose
        of… reasonably contemplated litigation”
… the findings and documents of that Investigation are
Privileged and are excluded from the s20 HSWA power

▪ If an accident report is not privileged, HSE can
  demand it and use it as evidence against a Company
© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations
2017 Law Society Guidance for Solicitors
▪ Seeks to confirm the right of Privilege for Internal
  Accident Investigations
▪ “No adverse inferences should be drawn by
  investigators or regulators from a claim to privilege
  or a refusal to waive it.”
▪ “Lawyers do not have to satisfy enforcement
  agencies or regulators that claims to LPP are well-
  founded, and the latter are not entitled to make
  this decision themselves.”

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations

SFO v ENRC Ltd [2017] EWHC 1017 (QB)
▪ ENRC’s lawyers conducted investigation into
  potential criminal activity within ENRC
▪ Included evidence taken from witnesses and other
  third parties (e.g. accountants etc.)
▪ SFO tried to compel production of investigation
  documents
▪ ENRC refused, citing privilege
▪ SFO brought case to High Court

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
SFO v ENRC Ltd - Judgment

▪ “General” trend of Courts towards less protection
▪ Must be a real likelihood of litigation, not just a
  possibility
▪ Actual intention/state of mind at time document
  produced is relevant
▪ Documents produced for purposes of avoiding
  litigation (as opposed to resolving/winning
  litigation) not necessarily covered

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
SFO v ENRC Ltd - Judgment

▪ Communications between client themselves and
  lawyers always privileged
▪ Not all persons within company are the “client” (eg
  lower level employees)
▪ Statements of employees taken by lawyers not
  necessarily privileged
   ▪ But could be privileged if they contain lawyer’s
     own thoughts/advice on evidence

         = ENRC’s documents not protected by Legal
© Weightmans LLP        Privilege
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
R (HSE) v Paul Jukes

▪ Employee killed at recycling plant by bailing machine
  where interlocking guard had been bypassed
▪ Paul Jukes was interviewed by Company’s Solicitors 6
  weeks after the incident and told them that he was
  responsible for H&S
▪ PJ was interviewed by HSE 18 months later and told
  them that he was not the H&S Manager

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
R (HSE) v Paul Jukes

▪ PJ was prosecuted, along with Company (and ors)
▪ Company (and ors) pleaded guilty, PJ took case to
  trial
▪ Prosecution sought to rely on statement PJ had given
  to Company’s Sols
▪ PJ argued they could not as it was part of a privileged
  investigation

© Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
 R (HSE) v Paul Jukes
Court of Appeal [2018] EWCA Crim 176
▪ Only privileged if litigation (i.e. prosecution) “reasonably
  contemplated”
▪ At stage that statement made, no evidence that anybody
  knew sufficient facts that would give rise to prosecution
▪ Not enough to say that “where there is a death and on the
  face of it a breach of duty, the HSE normally prosecutes”
▪ In any event, privilege is the Company’s and not PJ’s
▪ Would it be different if Company’s Sols had given
  evidence that Litigation was in fact contemplated by
 ©them?
   Weightmans LLP
Privilege and Internal Investigations –
Analysis
▪ Huge implications for accident investigations, risk
  aversion and deterrent effect
▪ Counter-productive? Less open for fear of self-
  incrimination?
▪ Privileged investigations still possible – but
  requires careful navigation by experienced lawyers
▪ Terms of instruction of lawyers (and instructions
  sent by lawyers to third parties) now very important

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing
Guidelines for
Health & Safety

 © Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety

Turnover
▪ Now plays a central role
▪ Turnover, not profit

    ▪   Micro organisation £50m
    ▪   Very large organisation ???

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines for Health & Safety
                              ~ 40-45% of Large

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Guidelines and ISO 45001

                        ▪ ISO 45001

© Weightmans LLP
Examples of Recent Cases
Sentenced Under The Guidelines

 © Weightmans LLP
High Profile 2017/18 Fines
                    Total T’over/
                                                 Notes
                    Fine    Size
          LSE Rail £2.5m £870m Worker electrocuted to death on railway.
+ Wetton Cleaning £1.1m £27m “Culture of cutting corners”.
                                      Contractor fell 3m to his death from work
            Iceland £2.5m £2.7bn      platform. No barriers and trip hazards.
                                      Worker paralysed by falling load. No RA or
   Wilko Retail Ltd £2.2m £1.5bn      training.
                                      2 separate deaths and series of other
  Southern Health £2.0m       £30m    failings. High Culpability. No reduction for
                                      public body.
   Bakkavor Foods £2.0m £1.5bn        Crushed to death by falling bales
                                      Worker fell 2m from mixing machine,
       Warburtons £2.0m £526m         fracturing spine. No WAH measures or
                                      training. 1 previous conviction.
                                      Trapped arm in conveyor belt. 2 previous
       Warburtons £1.9m £526m         convictions.
                                      Lone worker drowned in filtration tank.
 South West Water £1.8m £1.4bn        Previous warnings.
                                      Road worker killed by traffic. No safety zone
     ©Kier Services
       Weightmans LLP   £1.8m £562m   or speed restriction.
High Profile 2017/18 Fines
                    Total   T’over/
                                                         Notes
                    Fine      Size
                                      2016 case reduced from £1.99m on appeal.
     Tata Steel £1.5m £4.2bn          2x hand injuries from unguarded machines.
                                      Electrician crushed to death by crane. Failed
     Tata Steel £1.4m £4.2bn          to react to 2 previous incidents.
                                      Overloaded FLT overturned, killing delivery
Howden Joinery £1.2m £1.3bn           driver. No pedestrian separation.
                                      Red arrows pilot killed by faulty ejector
  Martin Baker £1.1m £216m            seat. Previous warnings of risk. Late plea.
                                      Foot injuries from electric pallet truck.
            Aldi £1.0m £7.7bn         Working alone and inadequate training.
                                      Tractor hit disabled member of public
      Notts CC £1.0m £480m            (seriously injured). Burden falls on taxpayer.
                                      Dangerous storage of stock at 3 stores.
Poundstretcher £1.0m £397m            Poor co-operation. Blamed local
                                      management.
                                      Two employees burnt removing hot gravy
            KFC £0.95m £480m          from microwave.
                                      Worker crushed to death at Heathrow.
Laing O’Rourke £0.8m £1.1bn           Workers didn’t have correct certs for plant.
 © Weightmans LLP
The Effect of the Sentencing
         Guidelines:

         HSE Enforcement Statistics

© Weightmans LLP
Huge Increase in Total Fines

© Weightmans LLP
Numbers of Prosecutions/Notices

 Prosecutions
   Brought

 Enforcement
Notices Served

     © Weightmans LLP
Huge Increase in Total Fines

 Year      Prosecutions Convictions   Total fines   Average fine

2012/13          605        576        £12.9m          £22k

2013/14          604        568        £17.0m          £30k

2014/15          659        619        £18.1m          £29k

2015/16          711        672        £38.8m          £58k

2016/17          593        554        £69.9m         £126k

   © Weightmans LLP
2016/17 By Sector

                 Industry            Total fines   Average fine

Agriculture                            £713k           £34k
Mining and Quarrying                   £1,387k        £462k
Manufacturing                         £25,094k        £158k
Utility Supply                         £2,783k        £696k
Water Supply/Waste Management          £3,779k         £189
Construction                          £15,981k         £78k
Distribution, Hotels & Restaurants     £3,074k         £99k
Transportation and Storage             £1,842k        £102k
Business Services & Finance            £6,070k        £141k
Public Administration                  £612k           £87k
Education                              £766k           £77k
Health and Social Care                 £1,794k         £94k
Arts/Entertainment/Recreation
  © Weightmans LLP                     £6,056k        £466k
Prosecutions Against Individuals

              Immediate     Suspended     Community
 Year
            Imprisonment   Imprisonment    Sentence

2015/16               38        59           13

2016/17               46        93           24

   © Weightmans LLP
Specific Sentencing Issues:

           Very large Organisations

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Very Large Organisations

Sentencing Guidelines

“Where a defendant organisation’s turnover or
equivalent very greatly exceeds the threshold for
large organisations, it may be necessary to move
outside the suggested range to achieve a
proportionate sentence.”

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Very Large Organisations

R v Thames Water Utilities Ltd

Court of Appeal’s comments on Very Large Companies…

▪ Highest category of harm and culpability = a fine up
  to100% pre-tax profit (even if in excess of £100m)

▪ Even in lower categories of harm = fines might be
  “measured in millions of pounds”

 © Weightmans LLP
Specific Sentencing Issues:

                   Company Groups

© Weightmans LLP
Interdependence – Embrace All Ltd
▪ Embrace All Ltd turnover = £13m
▪ Turnover of the wider Embrace Group = £112m

▪ 2 tiers of companies above it, but also 58 subsidiaries
▪ Employed all staff in Group and held all Group’s real
  estate
▪ EAL’s pre-tax profits were £6.3m (nearly 50%!)

▪ PROSECUTION: should treat EAL as having £112m t/o
▪ DEFENCE: Only £3.4m t/o relates to care homes – should
  treat as having that t/o (ie small)… AND
▪ …  Substantial
  © Weightmans LLP fine could risk ability to continue trading
Interdependence – Embrace All Ltd
= Medium sized organisation (based on £13m turnover)

“… If a company is part of a group of companies, then
of course, the court is entitled to look to the support
that others in the group will give to a company, if it is
the subject of a financial penalty, and if its continuation
to trade is ever in question. To that extent, of course, I
do take account of the fact that this is a member of a
group and not a single entity company.”

▪ Fine adjusted upwards for financial proportionality

▪© Weightmans
   Fine wasLLP£1.5m (for a company turning over £13m)
Interdependence - Tata Steel UK
… The approach in Embrace, echoed by Court of
Appeal in Tata Steel UK Ltd

▪ Turnover of £4.2bn
▪ Operating at a £851m loss

= No downward adjustment necessary to reflect
losses as part of huge company group

Court can take into account fact that Tata is part of
big company group when looking at economic reality
© Weightmans LLP
Interdependence – Martin Baker
… similar approach again in R v Martin Baker …

“In my judgment the “economic reality” here for
sentencing purposes … must take into account the
overall picture including the matters relating to [the
parent company]. …The (perfectly legitimate) manner
in which MBAL’s directors and (direct and indirect)
shareholders have chosen to structure their affairs
should not be allowed to mask the reality of the
financial position.”

▪ But did not need to adjust fine upwards based on
   the facts.
© Weightmans LLP
Specific Sentencing Issues:

Public Bodies, Charities and Not-For-
                Profits

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Public Bodies
▪ Use Annual Revenue Budget instead of Turnover
  when determining organisation's size

Sentencing Guidelines

“Where the fine will fall on public or charitable bodies,
the fine should normally be substantially reduced if
the offending organisation is able to demonstrate the
proposed fine would have a significant impact on the
provision of its services.”

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Public Bodies
R v Havering BC [2017] EWCA Crim 242

▪ Worker cut tree using cutting tool designed for
  ceramics
▪ Manual for tool (unavailable to worker) specifically
  warned against using on wood
▪ Not provided with cut-resistant clothing
▪ Blade came loose causing severe laceration to
  worker’s knee
▪ Council pleaded guilty

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Public Bodies
R v Havering BC [2017] EWCA Crim 242

▪ Council argued that “Substantially reduced ” within
  the Guidelines should mean “reduced by at least
  50%”

▪ Court of Appeal rejected that argument – the
  reduction is left to the discretion of the Judge

                   Fine = £500,000

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Public Bodies
Nottinghamshire County Council

▪   Disabled member of public struck by NCC tractor
▪   Serious but non-fatal injuries
▪   No SSOW or vehicle segregation
▪   Inadequate training of workers
▪   Council pleaded guilty
▪   ARB = £480m
▪   Burden likely to fall on tax payers or affect
    provision of services

© Weightmans LLP
                     Fine = £1m
Sentencing Public Bodies
R v Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust [2017]

▪   3x falls by elderly patients resulting in their deaths
▪   Budget = £325m
▪   Operating at £31m deficit
▪   Would have fined £666,666 is private company
▪   Additional 50% reduction given as NHS Trust

                      Fine = £333,333

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing Public Bodies
R v Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust [2018]

“Although I have accepted both that the Trust operates
under financial constraints, and that it has no apparent
surplus funds available, and that the imposition of any
fine will reduce the sums available for clinical services
pro rata, the Trust’s evidence does not demonstrate that
particular services will or will not be affected by a given
level of fine.”

▪ No Reduction Given

 © Weightmans LLP       Fine = £2m
Liability of
                   Individuals

© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals –
 Gross Negligence Manslaughter

1.   Duty of Care
2.   Breach of that Duty
3.   Causes (or significantly contributes to) the death
4.   “defendant's conduct was so bad, in all the
     circumstances, as to amount to a criminal act or
     omission”

▪ Very high hurdle

 © Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals –
Gross Negligence Manslaughter
It is of some note that in Misra, Langley J, had directed
the jury;

“Mistakes, even very serious mistakes, errors of judgment, even
very serious errors of judgment and the like are nowhere near
enough for a crime as serious as manslaughter to be committed
….. (It has to be something which was) truly exceptionally bad
which showed such an indifference to an obviously serious risk of
life of the deceased and such a departure from the standard to be
expected as to amount to a criminal act or omission and so to be
the very serious crime of manslaughter.”

© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals –
Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Sentencing Gross Negligence Manslaughter

▪ Maximum Sentence = Life Imprisonment

▪ Immediate custodial sentences are the norm

▪ Draft Sentencing Guidelines for GNM currently out
  for consultation –
   ▪ Would mean the vast majority of GNM sentences
     are a minimum of 3 years custody, and higher in
     many cases
© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals – Self-Employed

s3(2) Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

“It shall be the duty of every self-employed person … to
conduct the undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far
as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons …
who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to
risks to their health or safety.”

▪ Incl Self-Employed Consultants

© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals – Directors

s37 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

“Where an offence …committed by a body corporate is
proved to have been committed with the consent or
connivance of, or to have been attributable to any neglect
on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other
similar officer of the body corporate he as well as the
body corporate shall be guilty of that offence”

© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals – Employee Liability

s7 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

“It shall be the duty of every employee while at work—

          (a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety
          of himself and of other persons who may be affected
          by his acts or omissions at work;”

© Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals – Sentencing
Sentencing Individuals for Health and Safety Offences

▪ Up to 2 years imprisonment (or a community
  sentence or fine)

▪ Custodial sentence (immediate or suspended)
  becoming much more common

▪ Would your legal costs/representation be covered by
  your insurance?

 © Weightmans LLP
Liability of Individuals – Statistics

               Immediate              Suspended
 Year                                                   Community Sentence
             Imprisonment            Imprisonment

2015/16               38                   59                    13

2016/17               46                   93                    24

               Year                         Number of directors prosecuted

  Annual average over past 5 years                        24
  1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015                           15
  1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016                           46

                                     … but fewer employees prosecuted under s7

   © Weightmans LLP
Nobody’s Perfect:

   What would HSE have been fined?

© Weightmans LLP
Nobody’s Perfect

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Culpability

▪ “Failings to assess, plan, manage and control a
  well-known risk of death of serious injury”

▪ “Incident could have been prevented by putting in
  place recognised control measures available in
  longstanding published guidance”

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE - Culpability

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Harm

▪ “… a well-known risk of death of serious injury”

▪ One worker suffered serious burns

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE - Harm

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Starting Point and Range

▪ HSE’s “Turnover”
   ▪ Central Government Grant 2018-19 = £128.5m
   ▪ Plus commercial income of ~£15m

= Large Organisation

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Starting Point and Range

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Other Factors

                                                  √
x                                                 √
                                                  ?
                                                  √
x                                                 ?
x                                                 √
x
x
x
x
x
x

    © Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Other Factors

• “Where the fine will fall on public or charitable bodies,
  the fine should normally be substantially reduced if the
  offending organisation is able to demonstrate the
  proposed fine would have a significant impact on the
  provision of its services.”

• 1/3rd Reduction for Early Guilty Plea

 © Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – Other Factors

© Weightmans LLP
Sentencing HSE – The Result?

© Weightmans LLP
Any Questions?

© Weightmans LLP
Crime and Regulation Team

                  Chris Green
                                                   Tom Boulton
                       Partner
                                                       Solicitor
          DDI: 0121 200 8125
                                            DDI: 0121 616 6672
        Mobile: 07894 462112
                                   tom.boulton@weightmans.com
 chris.green@weightmans.com

                 James Muller
                     Solicitor
          DDI: 0121 200 8130
james.muller@weightmans.com

 © Weightmans LLP
You can also read