Headline: No excuses for not toughening up law
The Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, cannot duck responsibility for toughening up laws on directors of companies found liable for health and safety breaches, Labour MP Andrew Little says.
Speaking to a conference of businesses and organisations dealing with hazardous goods and substances Mr Little said the sentencing of the Pike River Coal company showed that there are some cases where directors should be held personally liable in some way for serious failures.
Mr Little is the author of a private member’s Bill that creates a crime of corporate manslaughter.
“A corporate manslaughter law means players in the corporate world, including government departments, must know that society expects to call to account and condemn unjustified acts or omissions that end up killing people.
“The Minister of Labour seems to be steering away from anything that looks like it will hold directors and senior managers in any way personally liable.
“If we want a step change in health and safety performance, and if we want health and safety to be taken seriously in every boardroom in the country, then sheeting home liability to individual directors is essential.”
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