The new health and safety act

Posted on May 06^th 2009

All employers are liable for accidents in the work place whether to employees or third parties. The government has brought in a new law designed around not only protecting the employer, but also protecting those most at risk.

The law brought in by the government is the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008, which came into force January 16th 2009 after receiving Royal Assent. The act has been brought in to lessen accidents in the workplace. The policy will be enforced by harsher penalties being dealt out to those employers, who have failed to meet the health and safety rules set down by the Health and Safety Work Act of 1974. As a result there has been a change to the maximum penalty to employers, it has risen from £5,000 to £20,000 as well as a prison sentence of up to 2 years.

Employers can purchase employee liability insurance which is available from Insure My Liability, although this will only cover damage to third parties and will not cover the fines laid down by the Health and Safety Act.

News brought to you by Insure My Liability offering liability insurance for a wide range of businesses.

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