DIRECTORS' DUTIES ON HEALTH AND SAFETY

EDM number 341 in 2004-05, proposed by Stephen Hepburn on 07/12/2004.

That this House is dismayed by Health and Safety Commission figures which show that in 2003-04, as a consequence of work-related accidents, 235 workers and 371 members of the public were killed and 129,143 workers and 13,575 members of the public suffered non-fatal injuries; notes that 11 people were killed in construction accidents alone in November 2004; further notes research by the Health and Safety Executive showing that 70 per cent. of workplace fatalities are as a result of management failures; is concerned that, while UK law imposes health and safety obligations on employees and members of the public, it places no positive health and safety duties on company directors; believes that the absence of statutory directors' duties on health and safety hinders the prevention of accidents, injuries and fatalities and makes it more difficult to secure justice for the victims of health and safety breaches by negligent companies and directors; endorses the view of the Work and Pensions Select Committee that statutory health and safety duties for company directors would have a positive impact on the current levels of preventable workplace deaths and injuries; and therefore supports the Work and Pensions Select Committee's call for legislation on this issue and believes that the introduction of statutory health and safety duties on company directors will ensure safety in the workplace and responsibility in the boardroom.

This motion has been signed by a total of 150 MPs.