New sentencing guidelines were introduced this week, which could see firms with £50m+ turnovers hit with fines of up to £20m.

The guidelines also state that firms with a much bigger turnover than £50m could be hit with even bigger fines for blatant safety breaches.

Contractors with a turnover of between £10m and £50m could face fines of up to £7.5m, firms with a turnover of between £2m and £10m would see a maximum fine of £2.8m while firms with a turnover of less than £2m could see fines hit £800,000.

The Sentencing Council said: “The increase in penalties for serious offending has been introduced because in the past, some offenders did not receive fines that properly reflected the crimes they committed.”

Sentencing Council member Michael Caplan QC said: “These guidelines will introduce a consistent approach to sentencing, ensuring fair and proportionate sentences for those who cause death or injury to their employees and the public or put them at risk.

“These offences can have very serious consequences and it is important that sentences reflect these.”

The new sentencing guidelines will come into force next February.