By Mary Lavin, Environment, Health & Safety Department

Lyons Davidson’s head of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), Richard Voke, will be speaking to local authorities about investigating and responding to health and safety incidents.  The event will be held in Bath today, 21 February.

‘Work Well Wessex’ is a project involving Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council.  It is aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of regulatory delivery in the Wessex region.

As a result of the initiative, appointed inspectors are able to pool resources, share expertise and operate across boundaries to deal with major health and safety incidents or targeted projects and interventions.

The project is holding its Partnership Action Day to bring together health and safety regulators from all of the Work Well Wessex authorities, as well as Cabinet Members, heads of regulatory services and the Health and Safety Executive’s Head of Operations for the South West, Max Walker. The group will be discussing current health and safety issues and planning work for 2012-2013. Richard is presenting on the ‘View of a Defence Lawyer’ in order to give the group a broader perspective on the cases they handle.

As a former inspector with the HSE, Richard has a wealth of experience in investigating and prosecuting incidents. His legal career has concentrated on advising and defending organisations on regulatory law, with specific reference to health and safety, environment and food. The Work Well Wessex event reflects the long-standing relationship between Lyons Davidson’s EHS department and local government professionals; Richard regularly speaks at the local government lawyers’ annual training weekend.

Specialising in regulatory compliance, Lyons Davidson’s EHS team frequently speak at events aimed at public as well as private sector organisations, to help develop a proactive approach to health and safety and other regulatory legislation.  If you would like further information about the services offered by the EHS team, please contact the department on 0117 904 7691 or leave us a message via the website: enquiries@lyonsdavidson.co.uk.