This is an interesting article posted by Courier Mail (from Australia). The headline reads "DOZENS of Queensland companies have escaped prosecution for serious workplace accidents after cutting "plea bargain" deals with the State Government."
A spokesman for Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick has come foward and to defend the practice of handing out enforceable undertakings rather than prosecuting errant companies."These undertakings are legally binding agreements that require the employer to carry out a range of safety measures that extend well beyond the original breach," he said.
The article discusses one of the cases- Sea World. The incident involved a runaway jet ski that was hurtled into a crowded grandstand at the Gold Coast theme park in 2002, badly injuring several patrons. The maximum penalty consisted of two years' jail and more than $1 million in fines. The case was eventually thrown out after Sea World agreed to spend almost $300,000 on safety improvements.
The article also discusses the case of electrical contractor Stowe Australia, where one of their workers was left a paraplegic after a 2007 industrial accident. The worker was helping unload a switchboard at the Southport Sharks AFL Club when the equipment fell on him, causing severe spinal injuries. Instead of being prosecuted the company agreed to improve its health and safety standards, publish an article on the incident and provide funding to the Spinal Injuries Association.
Click here to read the full article: "Companies avoid prosecution for workplace accidents" http://bit.ly/72HKNK
What are your thoughts on this article? Does the implementation of safety improvements justify industrial accidents? Is it "enough" to do this?
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