Covid: HSE refuses to close workplaces that are putting employees at risk – The Guardian

‘The government’s health and safety watchdog has failed to shut down any workplaces that put employees at risk of coronavirus even though there have been over 3,500 outbreaks at work since the start of the pandemic, the Observer has discovered.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: TW Logistics Ltd v Essex County Council & Anor [2021] UKSC 4 – UKSC Blog

‘This case concerns the registration of land as a town and village green. The use of the phrase “town or village green” (“TVG”) conjures up a bucolic image of an area of grass where local inhabitants can walk and play. However, the land in this case is an area of concrete (the “Land”) in a working commercial port. The question for the Supreme Court is, has the Land been validly registered as a TVG?’

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UKSC Blog, 12th February 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Watchdogs to inspect controversial barracks housing asylum seekers after health fears – The Independent

‘The UK’s prison and immigration watchdogs are to carry out an investigation of two controversial military barracks that are housing asylum seekers, amid mounting concern about conditions on the sites.’

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The Independent, 11th February 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Eviction of Euston tunnel HS2 protesters can continue, judge rules – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2021 in demonstrations, health & safety, human rights, news, railways by sally

‘A high court judge has ruled against a call to halt the eviction of protesters from a tunnel beside Euston Square on grounds of safety.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge refuses to halt eviction of HS2 activists from Euston tunnel – The Guardian

‘An emergency application to the high court by environmental protesters to stop HS2 evicting them from a tunnel close to Euston station because of safety concerns has been rejected by a judge.’

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The Guardian, 2nd February 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office put refugees in barracks after fears better housing would ‘undermine confidence’ in system – The Independent

‘The Home Office placed hundreds of asylum seekers in controversial military barracks following fears that better accommodation would “undermine confidence” in the system, internal documents reveal.’

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The Independent, 31st January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Alexia Walenkaki swing death: Tower Hamlets Council fined £330,000 – BBC News

‘A council has been fined £330,000 after a five-year-old girl died when a swing set collapsed on her in east London.’

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BBC News, 22nd January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New watchdog will be able to ban dangerous materials used at Grenfell Tower – The Guardian

‘Companies that make dangerous building materials such as those used at Grenfell Tower could be prosecuted and their products banned by a new watchdog announced by the government.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Senior judges issue guidance on wearing masks and face coverings in courts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 20th, 2021 in codes of practice, coronavirus, courts, health & safety, news by sally

‘The Senior Presiding Judge, Lady Justice Thirlwall, and the Deputy Senior Presiding Judge, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, have issued new guidance on the wearing of masks and face coverings in courts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Court and tribunal buildings are safe, insists acting chief executive of HMCTS – Local Government Lawyer

Posted January 20th, 2021 in coronavirus, courts, health & safety, HM Courts Service, news, tribunals by sally

‘Buildings operated by HM Courts and Tribunals Service are safe for those that need to use them, the organisation’s acting chief executive has insisted.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Firms accused of putting workers’ lives at risk by bending lockdown trading rules – The Guardian

Posted January 18th, 2021 in coronavirus, employment, enforcement, health & safety, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Irresponsible firms are exploiting looser lockdown regulations to bring thousands of non-essential workers into sometimes busy workplaces, with little chance of enforcement action by the nation’s safety watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 16th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Society calls for two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and Magistrates court work – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Society has called for urgent action including a possible two-week pause of non-custodial Crown and magistrates’ court work “amid escalating safety concerns”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Criminal solicitors body warns members it is not safe to attend Magistrates’ courts – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) has advised its members that it is not safe to continue to attend Magistrates’ courts.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ping Pong and fire safety – Nearly Legal

Posted January 11th, 2021 in accidents, bills, fire, health & safety, housing, leases, news, repairs by sally

‘Fire safety issues in blocks of flats and other multi-occupancy buildings are one of, if not *the* biggest issue in housing law and policy today. The background is pretty well-known and, for present purposes, can be quite easily summarised. Since the Grenfell Tower disaster, it has become clear that there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dwellings across England and Wales which have fire safety problems, either as a result of how they were originally constructed or because of conversion/adaptation works. Those problems are not limited to ACM cladding (which was the kind of cladding on Grenfell Tower) but also includes lots of other types cladding (including something called HPL cladding, in essence, wood-effect), and the absence of fire breaks (designed to stop fire spreading from one flat to another), defective or absent fire doors.’

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Nearly Legal, 10th January 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Can employees refuse to attend work because of Covid-19? – Blackstone Chambers

Posted January 8th, 2021 in chambers articles, coronavirus, employment, health & safety, news by sally

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought sudden and drastic changes to the workplace. Many are now working from home, to suppress the spread of the virus and protect themselves or their families from catching it. However, working from home is a precaution which is not available to all, and which is available unequally. There has been no better example of this than last week’s drama (prior to the announcement of the third lockdown) over the reopening of schools, with the government, local authorities, unions and individual schools and teachers at loggerheads over whether pupils can safely return to schools after the Christmas break.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 7th January 2021

Source: coronavirus.blackstonechambers.com

Watchdog finds serious faults in some English care homes’ Covid defences – The Guardian

‘Inspectors have uncovered serious weaknesses in some care homes’ defences against the pandemic, including Covid-positive carers being told to work because of staff shortages, a failure to isolate residents when they return from hospital and poor use of personal protection equipment.’

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The Guardian, 7th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Families of people who died deserve a hearing’: Unison boss demands public inquiry into government handling of Covid – The Independent

‘The boss of Britain’s biggest union has called for a pandemic “day of reckoning”, saying he’d been left “heartbroken” over thousands of needless deaths among his members.’

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The Independent, 8th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Council wins appeal over finding of negligence over personal injuries suffered by teaching assistant – Local Government Lawyer

‘A county council has won an appeal over a ruling that it was liable in negligence for personal injuries suffered by a teaching assistant.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 4th January 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Social landlord fined £80k after employees suffer Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 21st, 2020 in employment, fines, health & safety, housing, industrial injuries, local government, news by sally

‘A housing association was earlier this month fined £80,00 after four employees developed a debilitating nerve condition over a period of several years.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Covid-related PI claims “gaining momentum”, warns defendant firm – Litigation Futures

‘Claims for compensation after being infected with Covid-19 “appear to be gathering some momentum” amid a significant increase in claims farming activity, a leading defendant law firm has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 17th December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com