Penhallow Hotel owners fined £80k for safety breaches – BBC News

“The owners of a Cornish hotel destroyed by fire have been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £62,000 costs for failing to meet fire safety standards.”

Full story

BBC News, 4th May 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Baker v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Baker v Quantum Clothing Group Ltd and others [2011] UKSC 17;  [2011] WLR (D)  132

“A workplace could be unsafe for the purposes of section 29(1) of the Factories Act 1961 if operations constantly and regularly carried on in it made it so. Section 29(1) applied to the risk of noise-induced hearing loss arising from such activities in relation to long-term employees. Safety had to be judged according to the general knowledge and standards of the time.”

WLR Daily, 13th April 2011

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Supreme Court overturns CoA’s Pretty Polly hearing loss ruling – The Lawyer

“The Supreme Court has refused to endorse a Court of Appeal (CoA) ruling on noise induced hearing loss, blocking the progression of what lawyers believe could have been thousands of hearing loss claims.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 13th April 2011

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Heroic police and firefighters protected from health and safety laws, says CPS – Daily Telegraph

“Police officers and firefighters will not be prosecuted for breaking health and safety laws by putting their lives on the line, the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Network Rail pleads guilty over Potters Bar crash – BBC News

“Network Rail has admitted breaching safety regulations over the Potters Bar train crash which claimed seven lives.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Chris Huhne faces legal challenge over nuclear link to cancer in children – The Guardian

“The government has ordered an expansion of the UK’s nuclear programme without properly factoring in evidence that nuclear power stations cause an increase in cancer cases in children living nearby, according to a legal challenge in the high court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Hyper-injunction’ stops you talking to MP – Daily Telegraph

“Voters are being barred from speaking to their MPs under a new generation of gagging orders known as hyper-injunctions, the House of Commons has been told.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st March 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Calsonic Kansei fined £400,000 over forklift death – BBC News

“A car components factory has been fined £400,000 after the death of a worker who was struck by a forklift truck.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jarvis to escape prosecution over Potters Bar crash – The Guardian

“Jarvis will escape prosecution for the fatal Potters Bar train crash after the rail regulator is understood to have dropped criminal proceedings against the maintenance firm.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stunt expert cleared in Batman cameraman death trial – BBC News

“An Oscar-winning special effects expert has been cleared of health and safety breaches over the death of a cameraman during filming of the last Batman film.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Firm fined after women hurt by St Neots Christmas decorations – BBC News

“A building firm has admitted liability for the collapse of Christmas lights in a Cambridgeshire town which injured two women and narrowly missed a baby.”

Full story

BBC News, 1oth March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Miner Ray Noble’s family wins Retford asbestos case – BBC News

“The family of a miner who died years after an experiment with asbestos coating in a pit have won compensation three years after his death.”

Full story

BBC News, 10th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Families win asbestos payouts in Supreme Court hearing – BBC News

“Two families have won ground-breaking claims for compensation after loved ones died from cancer after exposure to ‘low level’ asbestos on Merseyside.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Norwich plumber wins compensation from UEA – BBC News

“A plumber who was hurt when he slipped on a wet bin bag while working in a college library has won £5,217 from the University of East Anglia.”

Full story

BBC News, 3rd March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lynch v Ceva Logistic Ltd and another – WLR Daily

Lynch v Ceva Logistic Ltd and another [2011] EWCA Civ 188; [ 2011] WLR (D) 66

“The owner of a warehouse who had the control of it (1) owed a duty under regulations 4 and 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and at common law to ensure that the place of work was safe for an employee of an independent contractor who was carrying out his work in the warehouse and (2) was entitled to assume that the independent contractor had given proper instructions to its employee as to how to carry out the work.”

WLR Daily, 28th February 2011

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note that once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Plymouth hospital threatened with safety prosecution – BBC News

“The Plymouth NHS Hospitals Trust must improve safety – including preventing swabs being left in patients – or risk prosecution, a watchdog has said.”

Full story

BBC News, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal Court rules in favour of homeowner sued over “cowboy” builder accident – Daily Telegraph

“Home owners are not responsible for the safety of workmen on their property, the Court of Appeal has ruled, throwing out a Polish builder’s claim for compensation from a woman who refused to let him walk on her pristine white carpets.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Will the new Corporate Homicide Act save lives? – The Guardian

“Solicitors believe it will take a high-profile fatal accident to test the ability of prosecutors to hold big companies to account.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Boots fined £10,000 for Welshpool man’s trap door fall – BBC News

“Boots has been fined £10,000 after a 76-year-old man fell through an open trap door at one of its shops in Powys.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Postman wins settlement after being sacked for not wearing helmet – Daily Telegraph

“A postman has won an unfair dismissal settlement after being sacked for not wearing his cycle helmet.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Factory fined over Hull worker’s severed hand – BBC News

“A food factory has been fined £14,000 after two workers had a hand and fingertips severed by machinery.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th February 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Birmingham Bupa home fined over strangled woman – BBC News

“A Birmingham care home has been fined £150,000 after one of its residents was accidentally strangled by the seatbelt of her wheelchair.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Isle of Wight brain injury worker in £7m payout – BBC News

“A boatyard worker who suffered brain damage when he was hit by a falling gantry has won £7.2m in damages.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Kington Horse Show organiser fined over electrocution – BBC News

“A charity which runs a Herefordshire show has been fined £10,000 after an exhibitor was electrocuted at the site.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Swansea teacher sacked after taking pupils sledging – BBC News

“A teacher was sacked after bringing a sledge into school and allowing two pupils to ride on it, a disciplinary hearing has heard.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th January 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

National Grid fined £8m by Ofgem for false claims over maintenance work – The Guardian

“A double fuse blew at National Grid today as it was fined £8m by energy regulator Ofgem for overclaiming on a maintenance programme, and its staff voted for industrial action over pay.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BT fined £300,000 over ladder death – The Independent

“BT was fined £300,000 today after a judge said a ‘significant failing’ by the company contributed to the death of one its engineers.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th December 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

£440k fines after Flintshire scrapyard death – BBC News

“Two companies and a manager have been fined a total of £440,000 after a Flintshire scrap yard worker died after suffering 90% burns in an explosion.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th December 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Teenager suing friend’s family for £6m after pool party injury leaves her paralysed – Daily Telegraph

“A teenager who was paralysed after diving into a swimming pool during a party at a former friend’s home is suing the girl’s family in a multi-million pound damages suit because there were no warning signs.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th November 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Building firm fined over Banbury forklift death – BBC News

“A construction firm and a contract worker have been fined after a man was killed and two others injured at a building site in Banbury, Oxfordshire.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd November 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Potters Bar train crash: Network Rail and Jarvis Rail to be prosecuted – The Guardian

“Criminal proceedings are to start against Network Rail and the maintenance firm Jarvis Rail over alleged safety failures behind the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash, in which seven people died.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teacher who lost voice trying to make herself heard awarded £150,000 – The Guardian

“A teacher of English whose voice was permanently damaged as she struggled to make herself heard in the classroom has been awarded more than £150,000 in compensation.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Company fined over Doncaster worker’s death – BBC News

“A firm has been fined £120,000 after admitting safety failings which led to a man’s death at its coal processing plant in North East Lincolnshire.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Liverpool headteacher fined over pupil’s roof fall – The Guardian

“A headteacher was fined £20,000 today for an ‘act of folly’ during A-level celebrations which left one of his pupils with a fractured skull and permanent damage to his eyesight.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Threlfall v Hull City Council – WLR Daily

Threlfall v Hull City Council [2010] EWCA Civ 1147; [2010] WLR (D) 262

“In cases where an employee had been provided with equipment to use in his employment, but injury had occurred and the question arose whether such ‘personal protective equipment’ had been ‘suitable’ for regulatory purposes and issues of negligence, regard was to be given to both regs 4 and 6 of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992; and the concept of ‘effectiveness’ was at the heart of the issue of suitability.”

WLR Daily, 21st Octbober 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Ending the ‘compensation culture’ is not as simple as it seems – The Guardian

“Lord Young’s health and safety report shows that balancing the rights of defendants and claimants is a delicate business.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government launches shakeup of health and safety law – The Guardian

“The government pledged today to tackle the UK’s ‘damaging’ compensation culture with a shakeup of health and safety measures, including an end to ‘senseless’ rules and regulations.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord Young health and safety review: recommendations – Daily Telegraph

“Lord Young has published a review into Britain’s compensation culture. These are the main recommendations made in his report Common Sense Common Safety.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fine after Worcestershire worker contracts virus – BBC News

“A health care worker contracted hepatitis C after injuring herself on a needle, it has emerged.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th October 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Fair ride owner fined after men injured at Silverstone – BBC News

“A man who owned a faulty fairground ride at the British Grand Prix has been fined £3,000 after two people were injured when they were thrown from it.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New checks call after rail death in Essex – BBC News

“A coroner has called for new safety checks after hearing how an Essex rail worker was fatally injured when a ‘poorly welded’ basket fell on to him.”

Full story

BBC News, 30th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ambulance-chasing lawyers facing curbs in review of health and safety rules – Daily Telegraph

“A review of health and safety laws by a Tory peer is understood to recommend that the activities of personal injury and negligence lawyers should be curbed. The recommendation is one of 40 in a review of health and safety legislation by Lord Young of Graffham, a former trade secretary in Margaret Thatcher’s Government.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 1st October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Firm prosecuted over Lancashire tractor-pulling death – BBC News

“A company is to be prosecuted after a man, 58, was killed at a tractor-pulling competition in Lancashire.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Council fined after child injured at Discovery Museum – BBC News

“Newcastle City Council has been fined after a young girl was injured by an exhibit at one of its museums.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Firm fined after worker falls through roof

“A construction company was fined £8,000 today after a worker was left blind in one eye after he fell through a roof, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th August 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Health & Safety Executive v Wolverhampton City Council and another – WLR Daily

Health & Safety Executive v Wolverhampton City Council and another [2010] EWCA Civ 892; [2010] WLR (D) 224

“A material consideration for a local planning authority when deciding whether to revoke or modify the grant of planning permission under s 97 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 was the authority’s liability to pay compensation under s 107 of the Act.”

WLR Daily, 4th August 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Reforming the law on level crossings – Law Commission

“The Law Commission and Scottish Law Commission are conducting a joint review of the law relating to level crossings.”

Full press release

Law Commission, 22nd July 2010

Source: www.lawcommission.gov.uk

Buncefield companies fined £5.35m for oil depot blaze – The Guardian

“Companies owned by oil giants BP, Shell and Total were fined a total of £5.35m today for their involvement in the Buncefield oil storage depot explosion and fire ‑ the worst of its kind since the second world war.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Today, the firms behind the Buncefield fire will be held to account. But will they be made to pay? – The Independent

“It has taken five years, but today the companies whose negligence caused the biggest fire ever seen in Europe in peacetime and almost destroyed a thriving community around the Buncefield oil depot will face justice.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th July 2010

 Source: www.independent.co.uk

Rochdale crushed cleaner firm fined £140k – BBC News

“A Rochdale plastics manufacturer has been fined £140,000 after a cleaner was crushed by a 1.5 tonne pallet of bags.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th July 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three firms guilty over Buncefield explosion – The Independent

“Three companies were facing potentially unlimited fines today after they were found guilty of health and safety breaches in connection with the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th June 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Legal action launched over Godstone Farm E. coli twins – BBC News

“The Kent mother of twins who were ill with E. coli in an outbreak in Surrey last year is suing the petting farm where her children became infected.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th June 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Buncefield explosion: second company guilty of safety breach – The Guardian

“TAV Engineering convicted of health and safety breach in connection with Buncefield oil depot blast in 2005.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Children’s petting farms face tough new rules – The Independent

“There should be no ban on children petting animals on farms but more must be done to protect them from infection, an inquiry has concluded.”

Full story

The Independent, 16th June 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Firm in Buncefield court case guilty of safety breaches – BBC News

“A company has been convicted of health and safety breaches in relation to the Buncefield oil depot explosion in Hertfordshire in December 2005.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th June 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk