Companies

Liability of a company

1. A company registered with the Registrar of Companies, has a legal personality distinct from its members or owners. Therefore the company itself can commit an offence and it is the company that must in general be prosecuted for it. The name of a limited company must end with the word "limited" or the abbreviation "ltd.".

2. A company need not have any employees.

3. The name of a public limited company must end with the words "public limited company" or the abbreviation "plc". 1 A public limited company is one whose shares are traded, as opposed to the simple limited company whose shares cannot be traded.

A public limited company may own subsidiaries that are simple limited companies. In all cases, proceedings must be taken against the company that is in breach itself- there is no option to proceed against the parent company unless that company is also in breach.

5. Directors, managers, employees and others may be liable as individuals under HSWA 1974, sections 7, 8, 36 and 37 in addition to the company's liability.

Procedure

6. When enforcement action is taken against a registered company, the company must be correctly described in the notice, information and summons. Failure to do so can invalidate your enforcement action.

7. A company is obliged to state its full name, its registration number, and its registered address on all its business letters and order forms, and its name should appear outside every place where its business is carried on and on all its other correspondence and trading documents .

8. You should also make a search of the Companies Register 2, which will tell you:

  • the company's correct name;
  • its company number;
  • the address of its registered office, which is where the summons or a copy thereof should be served; 3
  • whether the company is in the process of being wound up.

9. You should double check whether a compulsory winding-up order has been made, by contacting the Insolvency Service[166] quoting the company number.

Change of name or structure

10. It may be prudent to monitor the status of a company under investigation, to ensure that it is not dissolved without HSE's knowledge - see the section on Insolvency for more details. Once a company has been dissolved it no longer exists, so it would be impossible to issue proceedings against such a company, unless HSE was successful in an application to restore the company to the register. Such an application would be unusual and would be dependent on very strong public interest grounds. There is a facility on the Companies House website which allows anyone to set up a monitor alert on a company by registering and entering an email address and password. There is no charge for this facility and once set up, an email alert will be sent out every time a new document is registered at Companies House in relation to the company concerned. This would prompt the recipient to make further enquiries as to whether the status of the company had changed.

11. Where a company has changed its name, this does not affect any legal proceedings commenced against it. The company number will remain the same. Any legal proceedings that might have been continued or commenced against it under its former name may be continued or commenced against it under its new name. 4 This applies also when a company registered as limited is re-registered as unlimited, and when a company registered as unlimited is re-registered as limited. The company's former names will be listed on its record at Companies House.

12. Where company names have changed frequently or in short succession, it may be convenient to refer to previous names. For example, the Information could refer to "X Company Ltd., previously known as Y Company Ltd. and Z Company Ltd."

Business Names

13. Many individuals and many companies use trading names, these have no legal status and so the 'real' name must be used. A person carrying on a business in a name other than his/her own must include his/her true name in business correspondence and documents, and also specify an address where documents can be served. There is also a requirement to display this information in a prominent position at every place of business.

14. If an individual or company uses a trading name this should be included in all correspondence, notice or information, for example 'Mr Roofing, trading as Roof-it' or 'Roofing Ltd., trading as Roof-it'.

15. In a partnership, the fact that the individual is a partner in the business should also be stated, for example 'Mr Roofing, Partner in Roofing Partnership'.

Footnotes

  1. Companies Act 2006 s58. Back
  2. This can be done for all UK companies via Internet at The Companies House Website[167]. Back
  3. Companies Act 2006 s1139. Back
  4. Companies Act 2006 s81. Back

Link URLs in this page

  1. Enforcementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/index.htm
  2. Enforcement guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/index.htm
  3. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/intro.htm
  4. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/index.htm
  5. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-intro.htm
  6. Order of collecting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-order.htm
  7. Witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-witness.htm
  8. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-questioning.htm
  9. Admissibility of confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-admissibility.htm
  10. Inferences from silencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/witness-inferences.htm
  11. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-intro.htm
  12. Evidence that may assist your investigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-evidence.htm
  13. Obtaining evidence using section 20 powershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-obtaining.htm
  14. Preparing evidence for courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/physical-preparing.htm
  15. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-intro.htm
  16. The experthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-role.htm
  17. Site visitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-sitevisits.htm
  18. The reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-report.htm
  19. At courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/expert-court.htm
  20. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-intro.htm
  21. Contract of employmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-contract.htm
  22. Specific categories of workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/status-specific.htm
  23. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-intro.htm
  24. Partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-partner.htm
  25. Companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-companies.htm
  26. Joint ventureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-ventures.htm
  27. Limited liability partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-liability.htm
  28. Other defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-defendants.htm
  29. Prosecution of foreign defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-foreign.htm
  30. Insolvencyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-insolvency.htm
  31. Prosecution of individualshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-individual.htm
  32. Proceeding against employees HSWA s7https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-employees.htm
  33. Proceeding against Crown employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-crown.htm
  34. Proceedings against director, manager, secretary or other similar officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-directors.htm
  35. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-intro.htm
  36. The prosecution reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
  37. Approval of a proposed prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-approval.htm
  38. Evidential stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-evidential.htm
  39. Public interest stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-public.htm
  40. Selection of charges and mode of trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-charges.htm
  41. Cautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-cautions.htm
  42. Enforcement against Crown bodieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm
  43. Recording reasonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/investigation/approving-recording.htm
  44. Pre-trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/index.htm
  45. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-intro.htm
  46. Drafting informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-drafting.htm
  47. Legal referenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-legal.htm
  48. Sample informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-informations.htm
  49. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-intro.htm
  50. Criminal procedure ruleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-criminal.htm
  51. Jurisdictionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-jurisdiction.htm
  52. Informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-information.htm
  53. Summonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-summons.htm
  54. Initial details of the prosecution casehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-advance.htm
  55. Information to assist the sentencing courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-sentencing.htm
  56. Preparation for guilty plea in the magistrates courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-preparation.htm
  57. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-intro.htm
  58. Written statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-written.htm
  59. Supplying statements to witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-witness.htm
  60. Supplying statements to the defencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defence.htm
  61. Attendance of witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-attendance.htm
  62. Formal admissionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-formal.htm
  63. Production of documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-production.htm
  64. Defendant's antecedentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defendant.htm
  65. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-intro.htm
  66. Key requirements of the CPIAhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-key.htm
  67. Investigations and relevant materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-investigations.htm
  68. Disclosure stageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-disclosure.htm
  69. Preparing the scheduleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-preparing.htm
  70. Approach to common categories of materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/pretrial/after-approach.htm
  71. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/index.htm
  72. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-intro.htm
  73. General principleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-principles.htm
  74. Publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-publicising.htm
  75. Information which may be disclosedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-information.htm
  76. Sensitive caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-sensitive.htm
  77. Reporting committal proceedingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-committal.htm
  78. Contempt of courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-contempt.htm
  79. Reporting and Publicity - Abuse of process at common lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-abuse.htm
  80. European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) considerationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-echr.htm
  81. Reporting the trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-trial.htm
  82. Defamation: libel and slanderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-defamation.htm
  83. Breach of confidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-breach.htm
  84. Data protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-data.htm
  85. Reporting and publicity - Freedom of informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/reporting-foi.htm
  86. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-intro.htm
  87. Court procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-courtprocedure.htm
  88. Plea before venue and allocationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-mode.htm
  89. Discontinuing a prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-discontinue.htm
  90. The hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-hearing.htm
  91. Objections and adjournmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-objections.htm
  92. Contested cases - not guilty pleashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/magistrates-contested.htm
  93. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-intro.htm
  94. Trial processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-trial.htm
  95. Proving the offencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-prove.htm
  96. Key rules of evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/rules-key.htm
  97. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-intro.htm
  98. Witnesses giving evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-witnesses.htm
  99. Exclusion of evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-exclusion.htm
  100. Use of inadmissible confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/oral-confessions.htm
  101. Physical evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  102. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  103. Exhibiting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-exhibiting.htm
  104. Public documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-public.htm
  105. Proof of convictionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-proof.htm
  106. Sound and videotape recordingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-sound.htm
  107. Photographs, sketches and modelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-photos.htm
  108. Maps and planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-maps.htm
  109. Real evidence (material objects)https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-real.htm
  110. Computer evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-computer.htm
  111. Expert reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-expert.htm
  112. Depositionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-depositions.htm
  113. Written witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-written.htm
  114. Records required by statutory provisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-statutory.htm
  115. Continuityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/physical-continuity.htm
  116. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-intro.htm
  117. Rule against hearsayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-rule.htm
  118. Exceptions to the hearsay rulehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/hearsay-exceptions.htm
  119. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-intro.htm
  120. What is abuse of process?https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseprocess.htm
  121. Delayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-delay.htm
  122. Double jeopardyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-double.htm
  123. Breach of promisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-breach.htm
  124. Loss of evidence / failure to disclose unused materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-loss.htm
  125. Investigative improprietyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-investigative.htm
  126. Pre-trial publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-pretrial.htm
  127. In magistrates' courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusemagistrates.htm
  128. Abuse of process in the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusecrown.htm
  129. What to do if abuse is claimedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseclaimed.htm
  130. Recording decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/abuse-decisions.htm
  131. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-intro.htm
  132. Preparing for sentencing hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-preparing.htm
  133. The sentencing hearing and imposing the sentence https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-hearing.htm
  134. Penaltieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-penalties.htm
  135. Costshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-costs.htm
  136. Model exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/sentencing-examples.htm
  137. Crown courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-intro.htm
  138. Allocation Procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-committal.htm
  139. At the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-court.htm
  140. Committal for sentencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/crown-sentence.htm
  141. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-intro.htm
  142. Prosecution rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-prosecution.htm
  143. Defence rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-defence.htm
  144. Rights of appeal for both partieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-both.htm
  145. Appeals to European courtshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/court/appeals-european.htm
  146. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/index.htm
  147. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-intro.htm
  148. Conditions for a valid noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-conditions.htm
  149. Types of noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-types.htm
  150. Drafting noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-drafting.htm
  151. Service of noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-service.htm
  152. Failure to complyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/notices-failure.htm
  153. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-intro.htm
  154. Employment tribunals - Jurisdiction of the tribunalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-jurisdiction.htm
  155. Notice of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-appeal.htm
  156. Preparation for the hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-preparation.htm
  157. Employment tribunal hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-employment.htm
  158. Tribunal decisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-tribunal.htm
  159. Challenging tribunal decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-challenges.htm
  160. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/index.htm
  161. Introduction to the work related deaths sectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/intro.htm
  162. Investigation of work related deathshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm
  163. Coroner Inquestshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/chronology.htm
  164. The coronerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/wrdeaths/coroner.htm
  165. Enforcement guide Site maphttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/Enforcementguide/sitemap.htm
  166. Insolvency Servicehttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/insolvency-service
  167. Companies House Websitehttps://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/
  168. Register of convictions and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/convictions.htm
  169. Enforcement policy statementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
  170. Enforcement management modelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/emm.pdf
  171. List of Specialist Regulatory Advocateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/regulatory-advocates.pdf

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

CPIA
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act

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Updated 2022-03-22