Building safety regulations give industry clarity ahead of new legislation – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 22nd, 2021 in bills, building law, construction industry, health & safety, housing, news, regulations by sally

‘The UK government has published several draft regulations designed to give parliamentarians a better idea of how the Building Safety Bill will be implemented.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st October 2021

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Water company fined £100,000 for unsafe street work practices – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 20th, 2021 in fines, health & safety, local government, news, utilities by sally

‘Thames Water has been fined £100,000 after being prosecuted by Transport for London for four safety street works related offences committed on the TfL Road Network.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Major NHS trust downgraded by care watchdog amid safety fears – The Independent

Posted October 8th, 2021 in health & safety, hospitals, news, ombudsmen, quality assurance by tracey

‘One of the largest hospital trusts in England has been downgraded by the care watchdog amid safety fears and criticism that bosses did not act on staff concerns.’

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The Independent, 8th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BBC presenter hurt while playing role of ‘crash test dummy’ awarded £1.6m damages – The Independent

‘A television presenter has been awarded £1.6m in damages after he suffered brain and spine injuries while acting as a “crash test dummy” in a science programme. Jeremy Stansfield won a High Court battle with the BBC on Friday, with Dame Justice Amanda Yip ruling that the injuries he received in 2013 had derailed his “successful career in television” and restricted his enjoyment of life.’

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The Independent, 2nd October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

No case to answer: prosecution under s. 82 Environmental Protection Act 1990 dismissed – Local Government Lawyer

‘Sarah Salmon reports on how a social landlord successfully defended a private prosecution brought by an occupier of one of its properties under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st October 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Pret allergy death: Parents welcome Natasha’s allergy law – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2021 in allergies, bereavement, families, food, health & safety, inquests, labelling, news by tracey

‘The parents of a teenager who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret A Manger baguette have welcomed the introduction of a UK law in her name.’

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BBC News, 1st October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

To jab or not to jab? Covid vaccination dilemmas – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The main challenges to compulsory vaccination policies come from unfair dismissal and discrimination law. Unfair dismissal claims are available to employees with two years’ service. Claims would hinge upon the issue of whether an employee’s refusal to comply with a vaccination policy is a ‘substantial reason’ sufficient to justify their dismissal.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th September 2021

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fear of more baby deaths as ministers stand firm on jailing pregnant women – The Guardian

‘Experts have warned that more babies could die in prison owing to the government’s expansion of female prison places and ministers’ refusal to grant multiple requests to end the incarceration of pregnant women.’

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The Guardian, 23rd September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

London butcher hit with £40k fine for selling poor quality chicken, following successful prosecution – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 21st, 2021 in fines, food, health & safety, local government, news by sally

‘A warrant is out for the arrest of a butcher after prosecutors at Barking and Dagenham Council secured a conviction over the attempted sale of poor-quality chicken to customers.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

BBC sued for set builder’s death in claim over asbestos – The Guardian

Posted September 20th, 2021 in asbestos, BBC, bereavement, cancer, damages, families, health & safety, industrial injuries, news by tracey

‘The BBC is being sued over the death of a set builder who contracted asbestos-related cancer while working on high-profile dramas including Doctor Who. Richard Evans’s widow, Valerie, is seeking damages from the corporation after it admitted in the high court that it had exposed him to asbestos during his 23 years making and painting sets.’

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The Guardian, 19th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office hotels for asylum seekers ‘akin to detention centres’ – report – The Guardian

Posted September 16th, 2021 in asylum, health & safety, hotels, news, reports by tracey

‘Conditions in hotels used by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers during the pandemic are akin to detention centres, according to a report that also says accommodation is often sub-standard and sometimes unsafe.’

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The Guardian, 16th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Chertsey: Zane Gbangbola flood death site ‘to be investigated’ – BBC News

‘Investigations at a former landfill site behind a house where a seven-year-old boy died are to take place as soon as possible, councillors have said.’

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BBC News, 15th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gleision: Call for inquest into mining disaster 10 years on – BBC News

Posted September 15th, 2021 in bereavement, families, health & safety, inquests, miners, news by tracey

‘The families of four miners who died in a south Wales colliery disaster 10 years ago are calling for an inquest.’

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BBC News, 15th September 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Staying away from work because of Covid: a trap for employers? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Hari Menon looks at the problems that arise for employers where an employee stays away from work, pointing to the risks to his health from potentially contracting Covid.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘We’re being gaslighted’: Leaseholders given huge bills despite government claim their flats are safe – The Independent

Posted August 23rd, 2021 in building law, fire, health & safety, housing, leases, news, repairs by tracey

‘Homeowners in low-rise apartment blocks are being told they must hand over life-changing sums because their flats could go up in flames, even though the government has claimed the buildings pose “no systemic risk” and don’t need to be fixed.’

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The Independent, 22nd August 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Crumbling NHS hospital assessed corporate manslaughter risk – BBC News

‘An NHS hospital commissioned a report into the risk of corporate manslaughter charges should a fatal roof collapse occur, leaked documents reveal.’

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BBC News, 16th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK could allow animal tests for cosmetic ingredients for first time since 1998 – The Guardian

Posted August 11th, 2021 in animal cruelty, animals, health & safety, news by tracey

‘Ministers have opened the door to expanding the use of animal testing to ingredients used in cosmetic products for the first time in 23 years, an animal welfare charity has said.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Harrison Ballantyne: WH Malcolm Limited fined £6.5m over death – BBC News

‘A company has been fined £6.5m after an 11-year-old boy was electrocuted at a rail depot, a regulator said.’

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BBC News, 1st August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dougan v Bike Events Ltd: High Court decision on liability for a cycling sportive accident – 12 King’s Bench Walk

‘The claim was brought by Mr Dougan, an event participant, against Bike Events Ltd as the event organiser of the Manchester 100, a non-competitive charity cycling sportive on open roads.’

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12 King's Bench Walk, 19th July 2021

Source: www.12kbw.co.uk

The Reverse Burden of Proof in Health and Safety Prosecutions: As You Were – Henderson Chambers

‘In R v (1) AH Ltd and (2) Mr SJ, the appellants sought leave from the Court of Appeal to challenge the reverse evidential and legal burdens of proof to establish the “reasonably practicable” defence pursuant to s40 HSWA1974. Although permission to appeal was ultimately refused, the reasoning behind the decision is important reading for health and safety practitioners in the context of increasingly vigorous prosecutions.’

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Henderson Chambers, 9th July 2021

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk