Health and Safety Investigations and Prosecutions

Which Health and Safety Incidents will Lead to Investigation?

Incidents that will be investigated are:

• Corporate manslaughter
• Gross negligence manslaughter
• Falls from a height
• Injuries in the workplace
• Work related illness
• Asbestos exposure

In almost every investigation, you will be invited in for an interview under caution.  It is vital that you have representation at that interview.  An interview under caution is used to gather evidence against an individual or business. What is said in an interview can make the difference between whether a case is pursued to prosecution or not.  Therefore an interview under caution must be carefully managed.

Following an interview under caution, a decision will be made as to whether the case is to proceed to prosecution.  At Poole Alcock we can assist you in making representations to the HSE or Local Authority as to why a prosecution should not be pursued.

A proven breach of health and safety regulations will result in criminal conviction. It can also result in very high financial penalties for businesses and even custodial sentences for individuals.  A conviction can therefore be devastating to a business, not only financially, but can seriously damage long standing reputations.