16 Sep 2011
A court is to stage a mock trial demonstrating the legal risks of breaching health and safety guidelines.
The spoof case will see the director of a notional construction company face charges after a young apprentice is seriously hurt in a fall from scaffolding.
The case will be played out by real life company directors and staff in a bid to highlight the possible legal consequences of an employee being injured on site.
The ‘trial’ will take place before ex-magistrates and lawyers at Telford Magistrates’ Court in Shropshire on October 2.
Company bosses will watch the proceedings from the jurors’ seats and the public gallery.
Organisers hope that the case will provide information for firms about their chances of facing trial over a worker’s injury.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is organising the trial on behalf of the Staffordshire & Shropshire Working Well Together Group.
Barbara Cliff, from the HSE, said: “This is an innovative way of showing people in the construction industry what can and does happen when a worker is killed or seriously injured. The company director and the company itself can both face charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act if they are deemed to be at fault.”
Copyright Press Association 2011