Corporate Manslaughter Puts Director in Legal Trouble
In the first case that has come for trial under the Corporate Manslaughter Act of 2007, Peter Eaton and his company Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Ltd were jointly charged with negligence leading to manslaughter.
Crown Prosecution Service brought up the case against the director when Alexander Wright, a geologist with the company died while collecting soil samples inside a trench. The incident took place in September 2008.
Since then Peter Eaton has been to court once where in the short proceeding, he just confirmed his name. The judge allowed him bail until the next hearing where he will be allowed to respond against the charges. The prosecution charged him with failing to obey Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (’HSWA’) and also for gross negligence manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter Act of 2007. He is scheduled to appear in court on 19 August.
According to the HWSA, Eaton was responsible as the Act clearly defines that if it is proved that the transgression was as a result of the recklessness caused by the consent of the a senior office of the company, then he will be prosecuted. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) accredit the Safety for Senior Executives course. The course is aimed at Directors, Vice Presidents, Senior Executives and other senior managers who have the responsibility for policy making and strategic planning for health and safety within the organisation. For more information on the IOSH Directing Safely course, contact the experts at Workplace Law for reviewing your health and safety performance and risk management arrangements.
The company is also under the scanner for disobeying Section 2 of the Act, which makes it mandatory for the companies to secure the health and safety of their workers during work and in their premises.
