Covid-19 & Prosecution of employers
Coronavirus has dominated the headlines and amongst all this some commentators have speculated that employers may be about to face prosecution if they don’t take all Covid-19 precautions possible to protect staff and third parties from infection. Now it is correct to say that employers in the UK owe duties under the Health and Safety at Work…
The Corporate Manslaughter/ Homicide Act part 3
In part 1 and in part 2 we looked at The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and how applies to organisations which cause a person’s death or exhibit a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed to the deceased. Here we will explore the penalties and sentencing . As always, this is…
The Corporate Manslaughter/ Homicide Act part 2
In part 1 we looked at The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and how applies to organisations which cause a person’s death or exhibit a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed to the deceased. Here we will explore the role of senior management and individual liability. As always, this is for…
Breaking down the law: Corporate Manslaughter/ Homicide Part 1
The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act applies to organisations which cause a person’s death or exhibit a gross breach of a relevant duty of care owed to the deceased. In this three part series, we will break down the law and how it applies to you, highlighting key issues and explaining the consequences. As…
The Brexit impact part 2: Energy
What are the legal issues for the energy sector following Brexit? Potential need to follow energy policy without being able to influence its drafting. Firstly, UK energy policy is generally ahead of the curve when compared to the rest of the EU. However with Brexit, UK and EU Energy Union priorities may differ. Given the…
Offshore, Health, Safety and what’s going on…
Offshore oil and gas is often thought of as being one of the most dangerous and high risk areas to work in. Well, is this true? Let’s have a look at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual Offshore Statistics & Regulatory Activity Report 2015 (“Report”). This Report tells us how the industry has performed in…
UK Offshore Safety Directive Regulator.
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for the Environment and Climate Change (DECC), working in partnership, now form the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR). OSDR will act as the competent authority responsible for overseeing industry compliance with the EU Offshore Directive on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations. The…
CAA Reports on progress of offshore helicopter operations.
The CAA published a report on the progress of its Safety Review of offshore helicopter operations. The comprehensive Safety Review that commenced in February 2014, examined the risks to helicopter operations to support the oil and gas industries in and around the North Sea. It identified a wide range of opportunities to improve the safety…
Offshore services co fined following death.
Offshore services company, Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited, has been fined £100,000 for serious safety failings following an incident in which a worker died after plunging 23 metres from a North Sea platform into the sea. Mr Lee Bertram on 16 June 2011 was using ropes to: access below the deck; and carry out a sweep…
Aberdeen offshore H&S update.
The summary report on the outcome of the joint DECC / HSE consultation on the implementation of the Offshore Safety Directive (2013 / 30 / EU), and the government response to the issues raised is now published. The consultation (CD272) which closed on 24 September 2014, also gathered views on the review of two offshore…