SME owners who travel or who employ workers that travel need to ensure they have the relevant health and safety policies in place before the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act, one legal expert has claimed.

According to law firm Maclay Murray and Spens, there are no government guidelines in place relating to how the new legislation will apply to deaths involving people travelling for business reasons.

However, David Leckie, a partner with the firm, explained that employers will still need to carry out risk assessments for journeys to be undertaken by employers.

Speaking to Btnmag.com he said: "You must make risk assessments in writing of employee activities that might expose them to risk and you must revise them if circumstances change."

According to the Health and Safety Executive the new Corporate Manslaughter Act, introduced on April 6th this year, will mean that bosses can be found guilty of manslaughter if serious management failures are adjudged to have caused an employees death.

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