HSE chair raises spectre of legal board duties

摘要

THE CHAIR of the newly merged HSE, Judith Hackitt, is disappointed with the corporate response to guidance on directors' duties published at the end of last year and is warning that the HSE has left the door open for legislation to bring in compulsory board duties if the voluntary approach fails. Hackitt told HSW she has not seen enough signs that the boards of UK companies are taking their safety responsibilities seriously enough. "Where is the evidence directors have responded [to the guidance]? "she asked. "Because I'd like to see it... It doesn't seem that they recognise the ball is in their court. "Business has the opportunity to demonstrate that something it doesn't want isn't necessary," she said, referring to the possibility of statutory duties for directors.