County council fined £200k over disturbance of asbestos at primary school – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 12th, 2018 in asbestos, fines, health & safety, local government, news by tracey

‘Kent County Council has been fined £200,000 after asbestos was disturbed at a primary school.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 11th September 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Victims of major disasters like Hillsborough and Grenfell to receive extra support under new strategy – The Independent

Posted September 10th, 2018 in health & safety, news, victims by tracey

‘Victims of major disasters like the Grenfell Tower fire and Hillsborough will be given extra support so their voices can be heard, under plans announced by the government.
It is consulting on the creation of an “independent public advocate”, who would guide bereaved families through the investigative process and inquests, keep them informed and ensure that they receive help.’

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The Independent, 10th September 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Landlords told to remove Grenfell-style cladding or face action – The Guardian

Posted September 10th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, landlord & tenant, news by tracey

‘Landlords must remove dangerous, Grenfell Tower-style cladding from their buildings or face enforcement action, the government has warned. The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, has written to about 60 building owners and developers, including some of the UK’s biggest property firms, explaining the actions they must take to avoid penalties.’

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The Guardian, 14th September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pair face court martial over three deaths on SAS test march – The Guardian

Posted September 4th, 2018 in armed forces, courts martial, duty of care, health & safety, news by sally

‘A major in the British army and a former officer are facing trial by court martial over the deaths of three men who suffered fatal heat illness during an SAS test march in the Brecon Beacons in south Wales.’

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Baby died while left in car seat on hotel bunk bed – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2018 in children, health & safety, inquests, news by tracey

‘A newborn baby died after being placed in a car seat on a hotel room bunk bed overnight, it has emerged. The 10-week-old twin was found unresponsive at the accommodation in Wigan in July 2016. Investigations found the infants had been left on the bottom bunk while their parents drank in the hotel bar. However, a serious case review said the adults were not “excessively intoxicated” and the child had been alive upon their return to the room. No criminal charges were brought and a coroner was unable to ascertain the cause of death.’

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BBC News, 31st August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Kensington and Chelsea Council worker admits fraud – BBC News

Posted August 31st, 2018 in bereavement, fire, fraud, guilty pleas, health & safety, local government, news, theft, victims by tracey

‘A council worker has admitted defrauding around £60,000 from the Grenfell Tower victim fund.’

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BBC News, 30th August 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

CPS drops all charges against former Hillsborough officer – The Guardian

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped all criminal charges against Sir Norman Bettison relating to his conduct as a South Yorkshire police chief inspector in the force’s response to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Government’s Response To Grenfell ‘Breaches Human Rights’ – Rights Info

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in fire, health & safety, housing, human rights, news by sally

‘The government’s failure to adequately respond to the Grenfell tragedy may breach human rights legislation, according to the UK’s human rights watchdog.’

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Rights Info, 21st August 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Shopkeeper gets jail for selling illegal skin lightening products – The Guardian

Posted August 22nd, 2018 in fines, hazardous substances, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘A shopkeeper has been jailed for 20 months for selling illegal and toxic skin-lightening products, in the first custodial sentence of its kind.’

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The Guardian, 21st August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Britain flouting human rights over Grenfell-style cladding – The Guardian

Posted August 20th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, housing, human rights, news by sally

‘The government is breaching fundamental obligations to protect its citizens’ right to life by failing to address the systemic problems that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the UK’s human rights watchdog has warned.’

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The Guardian, 19th August 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

New body outlines plans to strengthen UK product safety regime – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 16th, 2018 in codes of practice, consumer protection, health & safety, news, reports by sally

‘The recently-launched UK body charged with overseeing product safety has unveiled plans to strengthen the regulatory regime for product safety and standards, including proposals to set up a national incident management team capable of coordinating large scale product recall and repair programmes.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Fire safety duties for insolvency practitioners – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 7th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, insolvency, news by sally

‘When a business goes into insolvency, insolvency practitioners may become responsible for fire safety. Those responsibilities will change if the Hackitt Review’s post-Grenfell recommendations are implemented, particularly if the insolvency involves buildings where people sleep.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th August 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Environmental Law News Update – Six Pump Court

Posted August 6th, 2018 in brexit, EC law, environmental protection, fire, health & safety, news, sentencing by sally

‘In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Laura Phillips, Mark Davies and Angelica Rokad consider a parliamentary report on the Government’s 25 year plan for the environment, the Brexit White Paper and a recent Court of Appeal case clarifying sentencing in fire safety cases.’

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Six Pump Court, 30th July 2018

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: Sentences for gross negligence manslaughter could increase after investigation into deadly fire – The Independent

‘Sentences for gross negligence manslaughter, which is being considered by investigators looking into the Grenfell Tower fire, could be increased under new advice given to judges.’

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The Independent, 31st July 2018

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hospital neglected woman who killed herself, inquest finds – The Guardian

Posted July 30th, 2018 in accidents, health & safety, hospitals, inquests, mental health, news by sally

‘A hospital neglected a vulnerable woman who accidentally killed herself in a part of the building bosses had been warned could be used for hanging, an inquest has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 27th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Too Hot to Work? Your Rights in a Heatwave – Rights Info

‘Most of your conversations in the workplace over the last few weeks have probably involved the weather, with blazing temperatures sweeping across much of the UK. MPs have warned that the current heatwave could become the new normal for our summers by 2040, so what are your rights when the mercury rises?’

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Rights Info, 26th July 2018

Source: rightsinfo.org

Prisons squalid and dangerous due to staff cuts, report says – The Guardian

Posted July 12th, 2018 in health & safety, news, prison officers, prisons, reports, violence by sally

‘Prisoners in England and Wales are enduring some of the most disturbingconditions ever seen as violence and self-harm rockets due to stretched resources and staff shortages, the chief prisons inspector has said.’

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The Guardian, 11th July 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prosecution by city council sees landlord ordered to pay £400k for safety failures – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 29th, 2018 in fines, health & safety, landlord & tenant, news by tracey

‘A prosecution brought by City of Lincoln Council has seen a landlord in Lincoln fined £400,000 for failing to comply with fire, health and safety standards in two of his properties.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th June 2018

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

What is the price of safety? And who pays the price? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted June 18th, 2018 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, leases, news, repairs by sally

‘On 14 June 2017, 72 people were killed when a huge fire engulfed the Grenfell Tower Block in West London. As we approach the anniversary of that appalling disaster, the inquiry into what happened has only just begun, with harrowing accounts from witnesses and survivors. One thing that does seem clear however, is that the retro-fitted cladding which was applied to the outside of the tower was entirely useless in slowing the blaze. Indeed, it seems that the cladding was itself flammable, feeding the flames, and was fitted in such a way as to aid the spread of the blaze.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 12th June 2018

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Bouncy castle death pair jailed for three years – BBC News

Posted June 18th, 2018 in children, health & safety, homicide, negligence, news, sentencing by sally

‘Two fairground workers convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence after a bouncy castle blew away with a young girl inside have been jailed.’

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BBC News, 15th June 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk