The final Grenfell inquiry report and what it means for families – Politics Weekly UK – The Guardian

‘The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London was the result of ‘decades of failure’ by central government, the public inquiry into the catastrophe has found. The Guardian’s John Harris looks at the findings of the report with the social affairs leader writer Susanna Rustin. And, as Labour continues to warn ‘things will get worse before they get better’, we are joined by the economists James Meadway and Ann Pettifor to discuss whether a painful period of austerity-lite is the only way through the storm.’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Report: Key findings from the inquiry – BBC News

Posted September 5th, 2024 in bereavement, construction industry, fire, health & safety, inquiries, London, news, reports by sally

‘The Grenfell Inquiry’s final report sets out how a chain of failures across government and the private sector led to Grenfell Tower becoming a death trap.’

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BBC News, 4th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council acknowledges “serious historic failings” which led to busway deaths – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 4th, 2024 in employment, health & safety, local government, news by tracey

‘Cambridgeshire County Council is to plead guilty to two health and safety offences after the deaths of 3 people on a guided busway, admitting that it fell “far short” of meeting the highest standards of health and safety at work.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court Upholds Costs Orders Against Halton Borough Council Over Planning Inquiry – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 4th, 2024 in costs, expert witnesses, health & safety, housing, inquiries, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘The High Court has upheld two costs orders against Halton Borough Council following the collapse of a planning inquiry due to the failure of the council’s expert witness to support its case.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Why health and safety at work law stands the test of time 50 years on – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 3rd, 2024 in employment, health & safety, news by tracey

‘The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 has now been in force for 50 years, but it continues to provide a globally-recognised framework for managing health and safety risk – even as that risk evolves with the operation of new technologies and ways of working.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd September 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘Grenfell is a warning to the world’: The survivors still searching for justice – The Independent

‘As the Grenfell inquiry prepares to publish its final report into the 2017 tower block fire that killed 72, Nadine White speaks to those still grappling with its tragic legacy.’

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The Independent, 1st September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

HMP Wandsworth living conditions are ‘inhumane’, finds report – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2024 in health & safety, news, prisons, reports, self-harm by sally

‘Wandsworth prison is crumbling, overcrowded and vermin-infested, with inmates living in half the cell space available when it was first opened in 1851, according to a report published on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 22nd August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Upper Tribunal hands down ruling on issuing landlords with improvement notices amid uncertainty over hazards – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has been asked to decide whether a local authority should serve an improvement notice on the owner of a house in multiple occupation if there is doubt about whether a hazard exists.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Company fined £1m over worker’s 36ft fall – BBC News

‘A logistics company has been fined £1m after an employee fell 36ft (11 metres) on to a concrete floor.’

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BBC News, 6th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How 1960s tragedies triggered a life-saving law – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2024 in accidents, bereavement, employment, fire, health & safety, legal history, news by sally

‘Since the 1800s, laws had been passed to try to keep people safe at work.’

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BBC News, 31st July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bereaved families force law changes – why did it take so long? – BBC News

Posted July 18th, 2024 in bereavement, bills, families, health & safety, housing, inquests, news, sport, terrorism by michael

‘The inclusion of both the Hillsborough Law and Martyn’s Law in the King’s Speech is a big moment for people power.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Workplace fatalities rise in the UK -OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 10th, 2024 in accidents, construction industry, health & safety, news, statistics by tracey

‘Construction companies have been urged to review their health and safety policies after new data showed most workplace fatalities in the UK occur in the sector.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th July 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Lant Street decision: is it a cladding system? – Tanfield Chambers

‘This article will focus on a critical aspect of the Upper Tribunal’s recent decision in Lehner v Lant Street Management Company Limited [2024] UKUT 0135 (LC). It follows on from Piers Harrison’s earlier post on the case.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 20th June 2024

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Fitness for human habitation claims – what are they worth? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Rhiannon Moody examines a recent case where damages were awarded over a council property that was unfit for human habitation.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tribunal rejects appeal over refusal by district council to disclose all information requested on Code of Conduct review panel hearing – Local Government Lawyer

‘A man who argued health and safety legislation should “reign supreme” over the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 in an appeal of South Kesteven District Council’s refusal of an FOI request has had his appeal dismissed by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT).’

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Local Government Lawyer, 24th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Organisers fined over horse-loving teen’s death – BBC News

Posted June 17th, 2024 in accidents, costs, fines, health & safety, news by tracey

‘The organisers of a horse and carriage fun day have been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £230,000 after a teenager was killed taking part in an event 12 years ago.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sacked blind baker treated unfavourably – tribunal – BBC News

‘A man who is registered blind is seeking a £112,000 payout after being sacked during his probation period at a bakery.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Easy as 1, 2, 3? Section 123 of the Building Safety Act and supporting Regulations create a power and a discretion to make remediation orders – Falcon Chambers

Posted June 13th, 2024 in building law, chambers articles, health & safety, news, repairs by sally

‘We know and are familiar with the mischiefs the BSA seeks to address. We now know too how the FTT is likely to approach applications for remediation orders under s.123.’

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Falcon Chambers, 28th May 2024

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Remediation orders – is the FTT being consistent? – Tanfield Chambers

‘This article examines whether the FTT’s recent decision in the Vista Tower case (CAM/26UH/HYI/2022/004, available on the FTT’s web-site) demonstrates a discernible pattern of decision-making following its first remediation order. The article will not comment on the terms of the order made in Vista Tower: that will be the subject of a later article. Instead, it will focus on the FTT’s approach to case management and whether its decision to make a remediation order was consistent with the reasoning in previous decisions. Obviously, consistency in approach, both in terms of case management and the final decision, will enable practitioners in this developing area of work to advise clients with greater certainty. In the absence of an appeal decision on remediation orders, consonance in first instance decisions will be welcome.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 16th May 2024

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Risk and Harm: Remediation Orders Through the Lens of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System – Falcon Chambers

Posted June 13th, 2024 in building law, chambers articles, health & safety, housing, news, repairs by sally

‘Prior to the coming into force of the Building Safety Act 2022 (“the BSA 2022”), local authorities already had the ability to take enforcement action in respect of residential premises where there was a hazard in relation to fire by virtue of Part I, Chapter I of the Housing Act 2004 (“the HA 2004”). Now, local authorities are among a class of interested persons who may apply for remediation orders under section 123 of the BSA 2022. What does a comparison of the two remedies say about how the First-Tier Tribunal should exercise their discretion in respect of remediation orders?’

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Falcon Chambers, 13th May 2024

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com