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Be safe, not sorry, Autavis tells motor retailers

27 October 2009

Well over half of all motor retail businesses remain unaware of health and safety legislation which, in the event of prosecution, could lead to unlimited fines, prison sentences and negative publicity orders, according to Autavis.

Telephone research carried out by the firm revealed that nearly sixty per cent of businesses were unfamiliar with the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which came into force in 2008. Ultimately, the Act enables the prosecution of companies and executives, where there has been a gross failing in the management of health and safety with fatal consequences.

Statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that, in the past five years, there were 24 fatalities and nearly 8,000 injuries in the motor vehicle repair sector, which were reported to HSE or local authorities. It is claimed there were a further 1,850 incidents involving serious injury to employees, self-employed persons or members of the public, which went unreported. Accidents involving manual handling, slips, falls from height and workplace transport were the most frequent causes of death and injury.

To help businesses reduce the number of workplace accidents and raise awareness of legislation relating to health and safety, Autavis has launched a comprehensive learning programme called ‘Working Safely, which is delivered 100% on-line.
Applicable to all employees and contractors working in the motor vehicle retail and repair environment, the programme includes a series of tutorials and a multiple choice assessment test which has a pass mark of 80%.

Nick Wright, Managing Director, Autavis, said:

“Businesses employing more than five staff have a legal obligation to protect their welfare, as well as customers and suppliers. Accidents and work related ill health cost the automotive sector millions of pounds each year and although they will have insurance, these policies will only cover a small proportion of the losses associated with accidents and ill health.”

Continued Wright:

“Uninsured costs include sick pay, loss of productivity, replacement staff training and salaries, fines and investigation time. Research by HSE shows that, on average, uninsured losses cost ten times the amount spent on insurance in that year.
To help businesses ensure that they understand the intricacies of health and safety, our course has been designed by highly qualified health and safety experts, covering the principles of health and safety, risk assessment and best working practices.”

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Notes to Editors:

Autavis telephoned a sample of one hundred motor retailers in the UK.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

Juries will be required to consider breaches of health and safety legislation in determining liability of companies and other corporate bodies for corporate manslaughter/homicide. Juries may also consider whether a company or organisation has taken account of any appropriate health and safety guidance and the extent to which the evidence shows that there were attitudes, policies, systems or accepted practices within the organisation that were likely to have encouraged any such serious management failure or tolerance of it.

Further information about guidance to automotive businesses can be found on the Health and Safety Executive’s website:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/index.htm

Further information about the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:

http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/manslaughteractguidance.htm

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