Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
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Lord Grocott[2] (Lords)
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to revise the mode of trial and maximum penalties applicable to certain offences relating to health and safety. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2008 c. 20 |
| Introduced by | Keith Hill (Commons) Lord Grocott[2] (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 October 2008 |
| Commencement | 16 January 2009 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008[1] (c. 20) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Its purpose was to change the "mode of trial" (i.e. whether summarily or on indictment) and maximum penalty available for certain offences against health and safety legislation. It was passed on 16 October 2008.
In England and Wales, health and safety offences fall under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008.[3]
According to the explanatory notes to the 2008 Act,[4] its precursors were:
- A joint review of the maximum penalties for health and safety offences carried out between February and September 1999 by the Home Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Health and Safety Executive;
- The 2005 report Reducing administrative burdens: effective inspection and enforcement by Philip Hampton;[5]
- The 2006 report Regulating Justice: Making Sanctions Effective by Richard B Macrory.[6]
Provisions
The act addresses fines relating to breaches in duties in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.[7]
Section 3 - Short title, commencement and extent
Section 3(2) provides that the act came into force at the end of the period of three months that began on the date on which it was passed. The word "months" means calendar months.[8] The day (that is to say, 16 October 2008) on which the Act was passed (that is to say, received royal assent) is included in the period of three months.[9] This means that the act came into force on 16 January 2009.
Section 3(3) provides that the act does not apply to offences committed before 16 January 2009.