Firm pleads guilty after man’s death

A company in Buckinghamshire has pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches following a man’s death.

The Health and Safety Executive reports Biffa Waste Services, of Coronation Road, Cressex in High Wycombe, appeared at West Berkshire Magistrates Court last week after a member of the public was killed at the Civic Amenity Site in Newbury.

Sentencing will take place later in the year at Reading Crown Court.

Such news may highlight the importance of HR professionals and employers taking care to ensure the health and safety of both their workforce and the public.

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The Financial Times recently reported the Sentencing Guidelines Council has called for organisations found guilty of corporate manslaughter to be imposed with fines of no less than £500,000 and warned such businesses could find themselves paying out millions.

Furthermore, it has suggested details of the offence and conviction should also be published by the companies in question.

From this week, such fines will apply to all firms charged and found guilty of such an offence, even if the incident occurred years ago.