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

Croydon tram crash deaths were accidental, inquest rules – The Guardian

Posted July 23rd, 2021 in accidents, bereavement, families, health & safety, inquests, news, transport, victims by sally

‘The deaths of seven passengers in the Croydon tram crash were accidental, the jury at the coroner’s inquest in south London has decided, in a verdict met with anger by families of the victims.’

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The Guardian, 22nd July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vue cinema chain fined £750,000 over seat crush death – BBC News

Posted July 21st, 2021 in accidents, costs, fines, health & safety, inquests, news by sally

‘The Vue cinema chain has been fined £750,000 for safety breaches which led to the death of a man who became trapped under a chair.’

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BBC News, 20th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Building Safety Bill – Commons Library Research Briefing

‘Second Reading of the Building Safety Bill (Bill 132 of 2021-22) is expected to take place on Wednesday 21 July.’

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House of Commons Library, 16th July 2021

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Suffolk mental health unit’s safety risks ‘not addressed’ – BBC News

‘A mental health unit has been rated inadequate for the second time in four months after it failed to address risks affecting patient safety.’

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BBC news, 9th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Volume of laws makes it impossible for local authorities to enforce them, warn private landlords – Local Government Lawyer

‘Private landlords have complained that there will be 168 pieces of legislation governing their relations with tenants once the new Building Safety Bill passes through Parliament.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Borough called on to admit liability – BBC News

‘Dozens of Grenfell Tower fire survivors have called on a London borough to admit its “liability” for the blaze.’

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BBC News, 7th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Grenfell bereaved and survivors bring multimillion pound case to high court – The Guardian

‘More than 800 bereaved and survivors from Grenfell Tower and 102 firefighters are seeking up to tens of millions of pounds in compensation from organisations involved in the disastrous refurbishment in a case that reaches the high court on Wednesday.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Building Safety Bill – Nearly Legal

‘This is, so we have been repeatedly told, the vehicle through which the government will save leaseholders from having to pay life-changing sums to remediate the fire safety defects which are so prevalent at blocks of flats across the country. The headline is that it does not do that (nor does it contain the details of the much delayed loan scheme). To the contrary, this Bill creates a bespoke process by which landlords of “higher-risk” buildings can recover their building safety costs even if their leases do not let them do so.’

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Nearly Legal, 5th July 2021

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Grenfell prompts creation of building safety regulator – BBC News

Posted July 5th, 2021 in bills, building law, fire, health & safety, news by tracey

‘A new regulator will be set up with the power to prosecute property developers that do not meet safety standards, the government has announced.’

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BBC News, 5th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Haulage boss jailed over M62 faulty brake deaths – BBC News

‘A haulage boss who ran a “lawless” business has been jailed for 15 years after two men died when their car was hit by an HGV with faulty brakes.’

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BBC News, 29th June 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk