News

Lawyer makes case for civil sanctions to address health and safety breaches

By on

The use of civil sanctions as an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain workplace health and safety breaches should be considered, Rhian Greaves, a partner at law firm DAC Beachcroft, argued during a presentation at the SHW Live North conference in Manchester on 23 January.


Making use of a “toolbox” of civil sanctions, including fixed monetary penalties, compliance notices and enforcement notices, would be “quicker” and “more cost-effective than prosecution” and would take pressure off the criminal court system, which has been “on its knees for some time”, according to Greaves.

The UK Environment Agency already uses civil sanctions to address some environmental breaches. A recent example of this saw Yorkshire Water agreeing to pay a record £1 million to two environmental charities after an EA investigation found it had breached its environmental permit with an unauthorised sewage discharge.

Rhian Greaves, DAC Beachcroft: "My own view is that this is a conversation we at least need to start having." Photograph: British Safety Council.

Yorkshire Water submitted an enforcement undertaking – a voluntary offer made by companies or individuals to make amends for offences – through which it agreed to pay £500,000 to both Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

While the EA embraced the idea of using civil sanctions as an alternative to criminal prosecutions in some cases, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) “didn’t want to go down that route”, said Greaves. However, given that 10% of health and safety-related criminal cases have “waited more than two years” to come to court, Greaves believes it is time to reassess that position.

“My own view is that this is a conversation we at least need to start having,” she told delegates attending the conference.

NEWS


BSC Impact Full Infographic

A year of impact: British Safety Council publishes a review of past year’s achievements

By Belinda Liversedge on 25 July 2025

The British Safety Council Impact Report 2025 has been published, outlining the organisation's achievements and initiatives during the past year in all its many areas of work, including campaigning, policy, training, research and events.



960 640 Great British Railways

"Great British Railways reform brings opportunities, but we mustn’t compromise safety,” urges rail chief

By Belinda Liversedge on 17 July 2025

As the government’s planned new publicly owned body, Great British Railways (GBR), comes down the tracks in two years' time the railways’ chief inspector has sounded a note of cautious optimism.



Happy Workers in Hard Hats iStock mnbb

New charitable offer launched for UK SME British Safety Council members

By British Safety Council on 14 July 2025

British Safety Council Members who employ fewer than 250 staff and are based in the UK can now take advantage of a new charitable offer.