Backing for blacklist proposal (From Gazette & Herald)

Backing for blacklist proposal

HARD-HITTING proposals to blacklist companies which flout health and safety regulations have won backing from senior professionals.

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) - which works to improve the service provided to victims of accidents and clinical negligence - has called for company bosses who break the rules to be named and shamed.

Allan Gore, QC, president of the 5,000-strong organisation, said: "It is a shocking fact that more than one million people are injured at work each year, and more than two million suffer from ill-health.

"What we want to see in this country is a safety culture -- a society which does not tolerate people being injured through someone else's negligence."

Responding to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation, the association has recommended that companies with good health and safety records be rewarded with a "name and praise" list.

It also wants to see well performing companies rewarded with lower insurance premiums, while rule-breakers should be hit in the pocket with more insurance to pay.

Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said the proposals were "extremely worthwhile" -- provided they did not burden businesses with cumbersome legislation.

He said: "In principle as an idea it's worth looking at -- I would support it very strongly."

Mr Gore added: "APIL firmly believes that employers with good health and safety records -- those who genuinely take care and invest in the well-being of their staff -- should be rewarded with lower insurance premiums.

"Why can't premiums be linked to health and safety records?

"That way, decent employers reap the benefits whereas those who consistently push health and safety to the bottom of the agenda are made to pay, both financially and with their reputation."

Updated: 15:24 Wednesday, June 15, 2005