from Derek London
For contraventions of the Factories Act causing death or bodily injury the average fine imposed by the courts in 1965 was £48. The maximum fine for such offences is £300. Offences under the Factories Act are tried summarily before magistrates, and between 1962 and 1965 out of a total of 2,240 penalties imposed 55 per cent were fines of £30 or less, 359 fines were in the one to ten pound range. These penalties are imposed whenever there is a contravention of the Act involving accidents that are fatal or cause bodily harm. Only in 19 cases were fines imposed between £201 and £300.
The average fine in 1962 was £43, while in 1963 it was £41, and in 1964 it rose to £46. An indication of the leniency of the courts in these cases can be seen from one example. This was the case of a firm that had failed to previde a guard on fly press, although it had been warned four times, when brought to court it was given a conditional discharge. This was despite the fact that there had been a previous derisory £10 fine following the death of a 17 year old youth.
Such low fines, and conditional discharges, are an open encouragement to employers to safely disreyard the provisions of the Factories Act. It is little wonder that workers become cynical about Factory Inspectors and their visits.