Company directors have the greatest power to determine whether their company is complying with health and safety law - but they have absolutely no legal obligation to do so and the health and safety of Britain's workers is being put at risk as a result.
However, this state of 'legalised ignorance' could soon be swept away thanks to a new campaign from the T&G and the construction union UCATT.
If victorious, bosses will no longer be able to insulate themselves from and remain, quite legitimately, ignorant about the safety practices of their company. Instead, they will be legally required to take the workplace health record of their company as seriously as its financial one.
The unions stepped up the campaign for better workplace safety following a rise in workplace deaths in 2004 which were up 4 percent on the previous year's figures. Working with Stephen Hepburn, MP for Jarrow, the campaign is promoting a private member's bill to introduce positive health and safety obligations on company directors.
This would also ensure that directors were held to account for negligent health and safety practices in their workplaces that led to injuries or fatalities.
Powers and duties of director; compensation of personnel
A. The director shall:
1. Be the executive officer of the department of health services and the state registrar of vital statistics but shall not receive compensation for services as registrar.
2. Perform all duties necessary to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the department.
3. Prescribe the organization of the department. The director shall appoint or remove personnel as necessary for the efficient work of the department and shall prescribe the duties of all personnel. The director may abolish any office or po ...