Company convicted of manslaughter

A Northern Irish company has been prosecuted under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007) and fined £187,500, plus £13,000 costs, over the death of an employee. The employee was killed after being hit by a metal bin that fell from the prongs of a forklift truck which was being driven by one of the company’s directors.

The second prosecution in England under the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 is due to be heard later this year. Alongside the company (Lion Steel Equipment Limited), three individual directors will face charges of gross negligence manslaughter.

Our checklist sets out the factors which can lead to a business being prosecuted for corporate manslaughter and the penalties for breaching the legislation.