Under which act can companies be held accountable for serious safety breaches?

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is the legislation that specifically holds companies accountable for serious breaches of safety that result in death. This act applies to organizations and outlines the circumstances under which they can be charged with corporate manslaughter if gross negligence in the management of safety leads to a fatality. The key aspect of this legislation is its focus on the behavior of companies, including their overall safety culture and practices, and it establishes a clear framework for accountability when safety breaches occur at a corporate level.

In contrast, while the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 emphasizes the general health and safety obligations of employers and employees, it does not specifically address the penalties for corporate entities regarding fatalities. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 deals primarily with the prevention of environmental harm, not directly with safety breaches leading to fatalities, and the Companies Act 2006 governs corporate law regarding company operations and responsibilities but does not address safety violations. Thus, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act provides the necessary legal basis for holding companies accountable in cases of serious safety breaches.