Steel firm to be charged with corporate manslaughter

Health & Safety update 27/7/2011

Manchester-based Lion Steel Ltd is to be charged with corporate manslaughter, The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.

The charge – which comes under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (CMHA) 2007 – follows the death of a male employee at the firm's Hyde headquarters in 2008.

Steven Berry fell through a fragile roof panel, suffering severe injuries and later dying in hospital.

The firm will also be charged under sections 2 and 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to ensure the safety of its staff.

Alongside the charges against the firm itself, three of Lion Steel's directors, Richard Williams, Graham Coupe and Kevin Palliser are be charged with gross negligence manslaughter under the CMHA.

The men will also be charged under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for failing to ensure the safety of staff.

If the firm and directors are found guilty of the charges – the first hearing of which will take place on 2 August at Tameside Magistrates’ Court – they could face unlimited fines and imprisonment.

Lion Steel is the second company to be prosecuted under the CMHA. The first, Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings, incurred a fine of £385,000.