Tough laws aim to halt site deaths

THE Government may introduce a crime of corporate manslaughter for construction firms that continue to flout safety laws.

Building firms who failed to meet their legal safety obligations were blamed for around half of the 21 deaths on sites last year by the safety authorities.

Labour Minister Frank Fahey yesterday said these deaths were unacceptable and new laws due to be published shortly will crack down on rogue developers by introducing a range of heavy penalties.