Stage manager is awarded £3.7m compensation after being left paralysed – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2014 in compensation, health & safety, news, personal injuries by sally

‘A stage manager for an award-winning theatre company, left paralysed after walking through an unmarked backstage door into “thin air” and falling three metres, has been awarded £3.7m in compensation, in one of the biggest payouts in the UK entertainment sector.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th December 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Food allergy laws enforced in restaurants and takeaways – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2014 in EC law, food, health & safety, news by sally

‘Restaurants and takeaways across Europe will be required by law to tell customers if their food contains ingredients known to trigger allergies.’

Full story

BBC News, 12th December 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Heath & Hampstead Society) v Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London – WLR Daily

Regina (Heath & Hampstead Society) v Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London [2014] EWHC 3868 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 517

‘The purpose of the Reservoirs Act 1975 was not to mitigate the effect of water escape from large raised reservoirs but rather to prevent such escape and to avert the potential danger to persons and property from an escape.’

WLR Daily, 28th November 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

What does Duty of Candour mean for employers? – Cloisters

‘So far, commentators have focused on the interplay between clinical negligence law and the Duty of Candour. But the latest requirements also have important repercussions for those in regulated professions such as doctors and nurses and their employment relationships. In this article, we look at steps which employers should now consider in light of the new Duty of Candour.’

Full story

Cloisters, 1st December 2014

Source: www.cloisters.com

Employers told to look out for the signs of domestic violence or ‘they could be held liable’ – The Independent

Posted November 24th, 2014 in domestic violence, employment, health & safety, news by sally

‘In the advice from the Government’s health agency, managers will be asked to spot sudden shifts in behaviour, or changes to clothing and appearance which may disguise bruising, and are to be encouraged to approach staff sensitively and offer help.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st November 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New sentencing guidelines proposed for corporate manslaughter, health and safety and food safety offences. – Sentencing Council

‘Proposed sentencing guidelines have been published today which will assist sentencers dealing with corporate manslaughter, health and safety and food safety and hygiene offences.’

Full press release

Sentencing Council, 13th November 2014

Source: http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk

Government gives green light to level crossing reform – Law Commission

Posted November 6th, 2014 in health & safety, Law Commission, news, railways, road safety, roads by sally

‘The Government has accepted the majority of the reforms to level crossing law recommended by the Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission, and has committed to review the remainder.’

Full story

Law Commission, 5th November 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ – The Defence of ‘Reasonable Practicability’ in a Claim for Breach of the Workplace Regulations – Zenith PI Blog

‘Whilst the caselaw suggests that a defence of ‘reasonable practicability’ in an employers liability claim will often be difficult for a Defendant to make out, a recent High Court decision is a reminder that such a defence can succeed in appropriate circumstances.’

Full story

Zenith PI Blog, 6th November 2014

Source: www.zenithpi.wordpress.com

Miners’ deafness claims against government on the rise – Litigation Futures

‘Compensation payouts to miners suffering from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) are rising sharply, government figures have shown.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 20th October 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Hospital safety standards shocking, say inspectors – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2014 in budgets, health & safety, hospitals, news, quality assurance, standards, statistics by sally

‘Safety standards in hospitals in England are “shocking”, inspectors say. The warning by the Care Quality Commission came as it released the results for the first 82 hospital inspected under a new regime. The system has been designed to be tougher and was overhauled following the Stafford Hospital scandal.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mentally ill patient dived off roof of Boston Pilgrim Hospital – BBC News

Posted October 3rd, 2014 in fines, health & safety, hospitals, mental health, news by sally

‘A mental health trust has been fined £20,000 after a patient dived off a hospital roof, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PC Ian Terry death: GMP officer ‘required to resign’ – BBC News

‘A Greater Manchester Police officer has been forced to step down over the fatal shooting of an unarmed colleague during a training exercise.’

Full story

BBC News, 17th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Retaliatory Eviction and Law Reform – NearlyLegal

Posted September 15th, 2014 in bills, complaints, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, repossession by sally

‘The government (through its Minister for Communities and Local Government, Stephen Williams) today announced its backing to Sarah Teather’s private members bill, whose aim is to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have complained about disrepair in their home or where health and safety hazards are found to exist at the premises, using the accelerated possession procedure. Statistics provided by Shelter show that 200,000 tenants faced possession proceedings in the last 12 months in response to complaints about the condition of their home.’

Full story

NearlyLegal, 11th September 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/

‘Ignorant’ crane boss David Saunders fined over death – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2014 in accidents, fines, health & safety, news by sally

‘A company has been fined £150,000 after a worker was killed when a crane wheel he was dismantling “exploded like a bomb”.’

Full story

BBC News, 9th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government agrees to set up Food Crime Unit following Elliott Review – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 8th, 2014 in consumer protection, food, fraud, health & safety, news, quality assurance by sally

‘A new Food Crime Unit is to be set up after the Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Elliott report on food integrity and assurance of food supply networks.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th September 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

West Herts NHS trust fined nearly £90,000 over asbestos risk – BBC News

Posted August 20th, 2014 in asbestos, employment, fines, health & safety, hospitals, news by sally

‘An NHS trust which put staff at risk to exposure from asbestos for 11 years has been ordered to pay nearly £90,000 by a court.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Drink-driving: Parliamentary group calls for tough new rules – The Independent

Posted August 11th, 2014 in advertising, alcohol abuse, drunk in charge, health & safety, news by sally

‘Tough new rules on drink-driving are expected to be proposed to Parliament on Monday that would bring the UK in line with Europe on the issue.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court sets out new procedure to help families of asbestos victims access employment records – Litigation Futures

‘The High Court has set out a new procedure to help the families of workers who died from asbestos-related diseases trace their employment histories.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 11th July 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Gleision: Mine death families call for answers – BBC News

Posted June 20th, 2014 in health & safety, homicide, inquests, miners, news by sally

‘The families of miners who drowned when 650,000 gallons of water flooded a mine want to know why the men were working near an area where water was suspected. Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died at the Gleision colliery when a controlled explosion let in the water. The mine’s manager and owners were cleared of manslaughter on Thursday.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Queen’s Speech: Good deeds ‘to be backed by law’ – BBC News

Posted June 2nd, 2014 in health & safety, negligence, news, personal injuries, volunteers by sally

‘Extra legal protection is to be given to people carrying out good deeds, volunteering or planning local events who end up being involved in liability claims, the government has announced.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd June 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk