The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care.
The Act, which came into force on 6 April 2008, clarifies the criminal liabilities of companies, including large organisations, where serious failures in the management of health and safety result in a fatality.
Major companies with an annual turnover of more than £50m face higher fines.