NEWS RELEASE
STUC welcomes Conference on Corporate Criminal Accountability The Scottish Trades Union Congress is lending its support to the first conference to be held in Scotland to discuss issues in relation to safety and corporate criminal accountability. The conference to be held in the Moir Hall, Glasgow on Thursday, 23 October will look at the adequacy of Scottish legislation in this area, investigation of work related deaths in Scotland, corporate accountability and the reserved law in connection with director's responsibilities.
Announcing the STUC support for the Conference, at the start of European Health and Safety Week, Ian Tasker, STUC Health and Safety Officer, said
"This conference is particularly welcome in light of the decision by the Court of Appeal judges to dismiss, as irrelevant, the charges of culpable homicide brought against Transco following the deaths of a family of four in the Larkhall gas explosion.
"While we await the full written judgement in this case we believe that it will show that the previous held belief that our law of culpable homicide was competent to deal with charges brought against corporations following deaths in such circumstances, including work related fatalities to be misplaced.
"Incidences of work related deaths continued to rise in Scotland while, for the same period, a noticeable reduction has been witnessed in England and Wales. The STUC believes that there is a need for trade unions, politicians, employers, lawyers and bereaved families to discuss, openly, our record in dealing with work related deaths and accidents and investigate the need for reform in our legislation, investigation procedures and penalties imposed by Scottish courts following conviction for breaches of health and safety legislation".
For further information about the conference contact the Centre for Corporate Accountability: 020 7490 4494.
ENDS
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The rate of fatal injury to employees has increased by 14% - from 32 to 37 to March 2003. During the same period the rate of fatal injury in Great Britain decreased by 11%.
Further details of the Conference can be found on the Centre for Corporate Accountability website
http://www.corporateaccountability.org/conference/Oct03Scotland .htm
Media passes can be obtained from the CCA by phoning 0207 490 4494
Places are still available at the Conference and bookings can be made through the CCA at the above number.