More health and safety prosecutions will take place before an inquest, under changes designed to speed up work-related death cases.
Families of people killed in work may be able to turn to an accident at work solicitor sooner than they had previously been able to. Currently, it is only in exceptional circumstances where prosecutions are brought before an inquest by any body other than the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The revised protocol will allow prosecution before an inquest where manslaughter or homicide charges are not relevant.
The Work-Related Deaths Protocol was announced by the Work-Related Deaths National Liaison Committee (NLC), which includes members from the Health and Safety Executive, the CPS, local authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers. It took effect on 1 October 2011 with the aim of ensuring families see a swifter resolution to some prosecutions.
Richard Daniels, chair of the NLC commented, "All signatories are committed to seeking justice for bereaved family members, when a work-related death has occurred and someone should be held to account. The change will help us deliver this justice more effectively and sooner in less complex cases."
