The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 16 October 2008 and will come into force in January 2009. It amends Section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and will increase penalties for breaches of health and safety legislation. It also provides the courts with greater sentencing powers for those who flout health and safety law.
The Act raises the maximum penalty that can be imposed for breaching health and safety regulations in the lower courts from £5,000 to £20,000 and the range of offences for which an individual can be imprisoned has also been broadened.
The changes are intended to allow more health and safety prosecutions to be dealt with in the lower courts and also to make the threat of imprisonment a reality for more blameworthy offences.
The Act raises the maximum penalty that can be imposed for breaching health and safety regulations in the lower courts from £5,000 to £20,000 and the range of offences for which an individual can be imprisoned has also been broadened.
The changes are intended to allow more health and safety prosecutions to be dealt with in the lower courts and also to make the threat of imprisonment a reality for more blameworthy offences.
