The OPSS has published details of its enforcement actions during the six months from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. Actions related to product safety included orders for forfeiture and destruction, compliance notices and the issue of mandatory withdrawal and recall notices. Relevant businesses included businesses based in Great Britain, but also a significant … Continue Reading
On 19 August, the sentencing remarks of Mr Justice Johnson were published in relation to the recent £90 million fine issued to Southern Water for sewage pollution. The remarks provide a full breakdown and description of how this record fine was calculated, and provide comments and conclusions on a number of issues that are likely … Continue Reading
Coronaviruses are a common family of viruses, and one of the main causes of the common cold. In late December 2019, a new coronavirus was identified in China with the potential to cause severe respiratory illness. The disease caused as a result of infection by the new coronavirus has been named COVID-19. During 2020, the … Continue Reading
The Health and Safety Executive (the “HSE”) operates a Fee for Intervention cost recovery scheme (“FFI”), which came into force on 1 October 2012. FFI was introduced to reduce the amount of public funding spent by the HSE, and to shift certain costs to dutyholders. If upon an inspection an HSE inspector identifies a material … Continue Reading
The Definitive Guideline for Health and Safety Offences, which came into force on 1 February 2016 (2015 Guideline), must be applied when sentencing cases in England and Wales. Being separate and distinct legal jurisdictions, the courts of Scotland and Northern Ireland are not bound to follow the 2015 Guideline. Historically, Scottish courts have still recognised … Continue Reading
There have been a significant number of cases reported in the press recently in relation to hotels that are being prosecuted for health and safety breaches. The increased visibility of such cases highlights a need for stronger emphasis on compliance within the industry. The reality of health and safety risks faced by the hotel industry … Continue Reading
The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation will apply in the UK from 13 December 2014. The Regulation will mean a number of significant changes for the labelling of pre-packed food. A recent client alert by Squire Sanders lawyers Rob Elvin and Nicola Smith identifies important changes for business operators.… Continue Reading
Wednesday 30 October 2013 saw the release of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Annual Statistics Report 2012/13. The report provides the latest top level statistics in relation to work-related ill-health, workplace fatalities and injuries and enforcement in Great Britain for the period April 2012 to March 2013. As shown in the numbers section below, … Continue Reading
The UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is set to release the Health and Safety statistics 2012/13 on 30 October, giving the latest statistics on work-related health, safety and enforcement in Great Britain. The release will include an online publication providing headline figures and commentary supported by a range of material on the statistics website and … Continue Reading
The mislabelling of horsemeat as beef – originally uncovered in the UK, Ireland, France and Sweden – now appears to affect as many as 16 EU Member States and has led to products being pulled from retail shelves and warehouses, causing multimillion Euro losses to businesses. Emergency talks were held in Brussels this week between … Continue Reading
