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Dying for a job: Avoiding the Blame for Work-Based Fatalities
How are the workers who have died commemorated?
In 2003, Workers' Memorial day was on April 28th. In the UK, we are fortunate that workers being killed for their beliefs are not a major part of our recent memories. Rather, we can reflect on the estimated 3000 workers (HSE figures) who die each year as a result of their working in close contact with asbestos.
We should also remember those people who die at work due to accidents that were avoidable; such as the welder killed when a 1.5 ton piece of steel, being lifted by a crane, fell from lifting hooks which had no safety latches.
Before the death, the company responsible had been instructed by their insurers to obtain these latches. They had not done so. The absence of these latches, at a cost of £5 each, caused the death.
The HSE did not prosecute the directors of the company who had overall responsibility for health and safety. The company then went into receivership and one of its former directors went on to set up a new business.
Plans unveiled in May 2003 by the Government to introduce legislation providing for the new criminal offence of corporate killing have been welcomed by unions and some employer bodies. The Institute of Directors (IoD) is in favour of new legislation. Its membership includes many small and medium-sized businesses. At present, the IoD believes that big business avoids prosecution for corporate manslaughter. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) which represents large UK business interests is not in favour of the new legislation.