The motor industry has been warned about the impact of new legislation that could see bosses face criminal prosecution for health and safety breaches.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act comes into effect on April 6th.

It will toughen up existing measures and make it easier to prosecute negligent directors, owners and senior managers.

"Companies must make sure that they are ready for the law," said Alex Murray, chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

"Health and Safety procedures should be as up to date as possible, to ensure the protection of staff, and in the long term the protection of the business."

Fleet managers need to be aware of the legislation, as unsafe work vehicles could lead to injury or death.

A recent poll showed the issue was being taken seriously by the majority of fleet managers.

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