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MP introduces 10 minute rule Bill to enhance director duties

Labour MP Frank Doran has used the parliamentary “ten minute rule” to sponser a Private Members’ Bill that seeks to amend the HSW Act by adding a positive duty on directors to secure health and safety.

The Health and Safety (Company Director Liability) Bill was introduced on 19 January and formally read.

New duty “desperately need”

The sponsor is permitted ten minutes to speak in favour of the bill and MPs debate the bill for a further ten minutes. 

Doran said: “We desperately need another approach … my Bill will place a positive duty on all company directors to take all reasonable steps to ensure health and safety in all aspects of the company’s activities-effectively to put them in the same position as all other employers and to remove a glaring anomaly in our health and safety laws.”

Chance of success low

The Bill is unlikely to become law but is due to be read for a second time on 23 April 2010.

The Government is due to respond to the recent Inquiry into the underlying cause of construction fatalities.

The Inquiry Report called for new new duties on directors to ensure good health and safety management,

This article was posted on 3rd February 2010 in ALL LATEST NEWS, CDM 2007, CDM 2007 DIRECTORS.
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