News & commentary

On this page you will find the latest news on employment law, HR and health & safety matters. They are updated regularly and you will find new content here on a weekly basis.

Latest news & commentary

26 April 2012

Minister nearly slips on hairdressers’ floor

Speaking at a conference on the future of the UK’s labour market on 18 April 2012, employment minister Chris Grayling took the opportunity to publicise the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Myth Busters Challenge Panel, and barely avoided launching a myth of his own. [...]
18 April 2012

New panel to tackle 'ridiculous' safety rules

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has established a panel of “myth-busters” to examine ‘risk-averse’ or erroneous decisions by external bodies as another way of bringing “common sense” back to health & safety.[...]
03 April 2012

Completely bonkers safety monster bans conkers?

In January this year prime minister David Cameron promised to kill off Britain’s health and safety culture for good, branding it a "monster" which was hindering the country’s economic recovery.[...]
27 March 2012

HSE criticises factory for putting profit above safety

A manufacturing company has been fined £18,000 for health and safety failings at its factory in Uxbridge.[...]
23 March 2012

Health & Safety Executive charging regime postponed

The HSE's 'Fees for Intervention' (FFI) scheme, under which it plans to recover its investigation costs from organisations it finds to be in breach of health and safety legislation, will not now come into effect in April, as originally planned.[...]
29 February 2012

Learn to manage safely with LAW

Law At Work are delighted to announce a new addition to the company’s training portfolio.[...]
02 February 2012

Accident and injury reporting change

A change to the reporting requirements under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) will take effect on 6 April 2012.[...]
11 January 2012

Government to ease health & safety burden on small business?

Prime Minister David Cameron has started the New Year by promising that the coalition government will ease the health & safety burden on small businesses.[...]
08 December 2011

The original three wise men

Once upon a time there lived three wise men: a doctor, a chemist, and a Safety Officer.[...]
07 October 2011

William Hill prosecuted after robber attacks worker

William Hill has been fined £10,000 for failing to protect its staff from work-related violence. [...]
06 October 2011

Unions set to fight HSE cuts

TUC Congress delegates have supported a motion condemning the HSE’s budget cuts.[...]
26 August 2011

RIDDOR reporting period amendment

Following a consultation earlier this year on the reporting period for injuries sustained at work, the Government has given the ‘green light’ to extending the current period of 3 days to 7 days. [...]
26 August 2011

Forklift fatality prosecution

Vion Food Scotland Ltd have been fined £100,000 following an accident where an employee was killed when he was hit by a forklift truck. [...]
10 August 2011

Riot guidance for concerned employers

The recent rioting across the UK has affected many businesses, raising a number of HR and health & safety concerns for employers. We thought that it would be helpful to provide you with some guidelines on the difficult issues that may arise as a consequence.[...]
19 July 2011

Two firms heavily fined over legionella risks

The HSE have imposed fines and costs of approximately £250,000 on two UK firms after employees and members of the public were put at risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria which is potentially deadly. [...]
14 July 2011

Increase in workplace fatalities

Provisional figures released by the HSE show an increase of 16% in workplace fatalities, with a total of 171 for 2010/11. [...]
24 May 2011

HSE and RIDDOR

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) will be changing the way in which certain reportable incidents must be reported to them.[...]
24 May 2011

Corporate manslaughter appeal rebuffed

The Court of Appeal has refused an appeal application from the first company to be convicted of Corporate Manslaughter.[...]
26 April 2011

Builder sentenced to 4 months in prison

A builder has been sentenced to 4 months in prison for carrying out illegal repairs on gas systems and having left electrical work in a condition that posed a risk of fatality.[...]
01 April 2011

Compensation for playground fall

A Scottish council has been penalised after a girl fell and hurt her wrist while swinging from rafters in a playground shelter.[...]