The Health and Safety Offences Act comes into force today, threatening company directors found responsible of work-related accidents with up to two years in prison.rnHillary Cohen, a partner in lawyer LG Legal's construction group, said time would tell whether the act would work as it was supposed to, but that it would make directors "sit up and pay attention".rnDiane Johnson, director of electrical contractor Eric Johnson of Northwich, said she was worried that the legislation would penalise employers who had worked hard to prevent accidents. She said: "If you have taught your worker and given him the correct equipment, and your manrngoes against what you have taught him, then there should be a defence for the employer."
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