Duty of Care
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
Employers are responsible in law for their employees’ welfare when they are on the road for business purposes. Since April 2008, they can now be prosecuted for Corporate Manslaughter if it can be proved that negligence in their duty of care obligations caused a death.
Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 extends the £20,000 maximum Magistrates’ Court fine to a wider range of health and safety offences for which fleet managers and fleet decision-makers, including directors, could be prosecuted for, to up to two years in a prison, if convicted in a Crown Court, a fine or both.
The above is terrifying; companies and their fleet managers need to take measures to adhere to this legislation.
THE FACTS?
More than 3,000 people die in road collisions every year and estimates suggest that a third of all accidents involve at-work drivers.
Failings by senior managers that lead to a death could result in fines, corporate manslaughter or a health and safety conviction could prove even more damaging.
HOW CAN TRACKING HELP?
Vehicle tracking isn’t just about saving money by cutting fuel bills and increasing efficiency, it can also save lives.
By using tracking technology you have access to much information that will prove your duty of care as well as gaining information to protect your workforce.
Monitoring speed, harsh acceleration, harsh braking and correcting with driver training not only fulfils your legal obligations but also saves the lives of your staff.
If your drivers are running late for any reason, rather than them risk their lives the office can warn the customer in advance, improving standards of customer service and making sure drivers don’t have to deal with aggressive or disgruntled customers.
More information available from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/manslaughteractguidance.htm
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/20/contents
Employers are responsible in law for their employees’ welfare when they are on the road for business purposes. Since April 2008, they can now be prosecuted for Corporate Manslaughter if it can be proved that negligence in their duty of care obligations caused a death.
Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 extends the £20,000 maximum Magistrates’ Court fine to a wider range of health and safety offences for which fleet managers and fleet decision-makers, including directors, could be prosecuted for, to up to two years in a prison, if convicted in a Crown Court, a fine or both.
The above is terrifying; companies and their fleet managers need to take measures to adhere to this legislation.
THE FACTS?
More than 3,000 people die in road collisions every year and estimates suggest that a third of all accidents involve at-work drivers.
Failings by senior managers that lead to a death could result in fines, corporate manslaughter or a health and safety conviction could prove even more damaging.
HOW CAN TRACKING HELP?
Vehicle tracking isn’t just about saving money by cutting fuel bills and increasing efficiency, it can also save lives.
By using tracking technology you have access to much information that will prove your duty of care as well as gaining information to protect your workforce.
Monitoring speed, harsh acceleration, harsh braking and correcting with driver training not only fulfils your legal obligations but also saves the lives of your staff.
If your drivers are running late for any reason, rather than them risk their lives the office can warn the customer in advance, improving standards of customer service and making sure drivers don’t have to deal with aggressive or disgruntled customers.
More information available from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/manslaughteractguidance.htm
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/20/contents