HSE names law breakers

Hotels and restaurants have temporarily escaped a "name and shame" database of companies that committed health and safety crimes during 1999 and 2000, it emerged this week.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published details and penalties for more than 1,600 breaches of laws to protect people from workplace accidents and illnesses on a new Web site (www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions).

But the list currently includes only prosecutions or breaches handled by the HSE. Sectors such as catering and hospitality, where the laws are enforced by local authorities, will not be listed before next year's report, due in October 2001.

A spokesman for the HSE said the logistical problems of collecting data on local authority prosecutions - which account for about half the total incidents - were behind their absence in this first listing on the Internet.

"We plan to have local authority prosecutions in future," he said. "We will make every effort to get them on board for next year.

"I want this report to create pressure to improve on those who have failed in their responsibilities towards workers and the general public," explained HSE director Timothy Walker.

"I also hope it will deter others who will not want to be named in this way."

But he criticised the low level of fines meted out by the courts for health and safety crimes, which on average fall below £7,000.

He called for tougher penalties, more use of prison sentences and a speedy introduction of new "corporate killing" legislation.

by Angela Frewin