By Georgia Sharples, Solicitor, Environment, Health and Safety Department
On 11 January, Lyons Davidson’s head of Environment, Health and Safety, Richard Voke, spoke at the Somerset Occupational Safety and Health Association (SOSHA) in Bridgwater.
Richard discussed recent developments in health and safety legislation and the potential impact on both businesses and individuals. At the forefront of his presentation was the recently published Löfstedt Review, a government-backed independent review of current health and safety legislation. The Löfstedt Review makes a number of proposals, many of which have the potential to have a significant impact on the management of health and safety across many industry sectors.
In addition to the above, Richard spoke on the imminent Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, due to come into force in April 2012. These will give the HSE the power to charge businesses for their costs associated with intervening in relation to material breaches of health and safety laws. He also provided a detailed update on the significant health and safety cases of the last 12 months, including R v Cotswold Geotechnical (Holdings) Ltd, Tangerine Confectionary Ltd and Veolia ES (UK) Ltd v R, R v M&S and Others and St. Regis Paper Company Ltd v R.
The event was attended by health and safety managers from various industrial sectors, health and safety consultants, and enforcement officers and senior managers of local companies.
For information and advice on health and safety legislation, contact: rvoke@lyonsdavidson.co.uk