Courtroom drama for construction industry

Date:

14 July 2010

Release No:

HSE/EM/33/10

Thursday 22 July 2010 - 9.00am, Sessions House Court, Northampton NN1 1DP

Local construction firm managers are being invited to attend a mock trial (22 July) to help them understand how important good health and safety is, by seeing first hand what can happen when things go wrong and a worker is injured.

In the pretend criminal trial at Northampton's 17th century Sessions House Court, both the company and the director of a fictional company are to be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with the verdict decided on the day.

As in reality, the Magistrates will judge the case on the facts and arguments presented to them by prosecution and defence lawyers. The event will close with a discussion of the verdict and its implications, and there will be the opportunity to question the legal team.

Health and Safety Awareness Officer Sharon Geeson said:

"As a director or senior manager, your job is to make sure that things go right for your business and your workers aren't put at unnecessary risk. With the best will, things can still go wrong. This mock trial aims to explain what can happen when a worker is hurt and the HSE decides to prosecute."

The event is being organised by the East Midlands Working Well Together campaign group. The Working Well Together campaign aims to improve health and safety in the construction industry, particularly in small and micro businesses.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More information on Working Well Together can be found at www.wwt.uk.com

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR East Midlands