Contract ban in event of health and safety violations mulled

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 21 - Companies found to be in serious breach of workplace health and safety regulations may be subject to a contract ban for between two and five years as part of new measures under consideration to improve workplace safety after a structural collapse at a building site in Florence last Friday left five people dead and three more seriously injured, sources said on Wednesday.
    The package is due to come before the cabinet at its next meeting.
    Under the clamp down, companies found to be irregular would also reportedly forego tax and social security benefits.
    The measures were reportedly announced at the end of a cabinet meeting during which Labour Minister Marina briefed the government on the state of the art concerning health and safety in the workplace. (ANSA).