Case Study 5. Failure to properly monitor working hours

An organisation was found guilty of failing to properly monitor working hours when an employee driving home in his own car was involved in an accident resulting in the death of the employee. The court heard that the employee, after working 76 hours in four days, fell asleep at the wheel when driving home.

The company was fined £30,000 plus £24,000 costs for failing to keep proper records to monitor employee hours.

This employee was not required to drive on company business but the case serves to warn others that failing to monitor working hours will not be tolerated.