Time is running out for slack bosses with new corporate manslaughter laws on the horizon, warns LicenceCheck, a driving licence verification provider.
The new laws take effect in April this year. According to the regulations, in the event of a fatal incident involving an employee driving on company business, an employer may be required to provide evidence of policies and procedures which confirm an employee’s eligibility to drive and have precautionary measures in place to ensure their safety on work-related journeys.
Failure to manage risk, audit and update policies may lead to prosecution under the new offence of corporate manslaughter.
Richard Brown, managing director of LicenceCheck, said: “Almost every business has employees who drive on their behalf. This could be drivers of company cars, vans, heavy goods vehicles or even staff posting mail on their way home. All are making journeys for their employer, but are they legally licensed to do so? All could expose the company to unnecessary risk and possible prosecution under the ‘Health & Safety at Work Act’.”
Brown advises bosses to regularly verify that employees are licensed and entitled to drive.
