On 15 February 2011, Cotswold Geotechnical (Holdings) Ltd was found guilty of corporate manslaughter.
This is the first time that a company has been charged with, or convicted of, corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. For further details of the case, please click here.
Matthew Arnold & Baldwin partner Tim Constable has written about the background to this case in detail and looked at the impact the Act will have on companies. Please click here to read this analysis.
This successful prosecution demonstrates how important it is for businesses to ensure that they regularly review their health and safety and risk management systems/policies.
Sentencing is due to take place tomorrow (17 February 2011).
UPDATE (18 Feb 2011): Cotswold Geotechnical has been fined £385,000, but, due to the company’s poor financial state, the Court has said that the money can be paid over 10 years, at a rate of £38,500 per annum.
