The Weymouth Dorset hotel, which was being run by LFH Moonfleet Manor Ltd, was having its roof renovated on 13 June 2019 when a slate fell around five metres before hitting a toddler on the head as she was leaving the building. The toddler was hospitalised and had to undergo surgery. 

Following the incident, the hotel was fined £200,000 because of its failures to ensure the safety of guests contrary to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Pt I s.3(1) and s.33(1)(a). 

The onshore wind sector is rapidly expanding, with Britain aiming to become a "clean energy superpower" by 2030. Compliance with health and safety standards is therefore increasingly important.

In December 2024, the Scottish Government published a consultation document in relation to a proposed review of Scotland’s building and fire safety regulatory frameworks. The consultation covers fire safety risks in traditional buildings used as hotels as well as other topics.

The consultation is presented following the recommendations made by an expert working group after the fatal accident inquiry (“FAI") into the fire at Cameron House Hotel in December 2017. 

On 19 December 2023, Lord Young issued his opinion in Jon William Davie v Powerteam Electrical Services (UK) Limited and Vinci Energies UK Holding Limited.

The case concerned the Occupiers’ Liability (Scotland) Act 1960 and raises timely questions of how far site occupiers must go to mitigate obvious risks and what is required to dismiss a personal injury action without hearing evidence. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for Great Britain for the period 2023/24.

The statistics show that the number of workers reported to be suffering from work-related ill health during 2023/24 was 1.7 million (showing a slight decrease compared to the previous year – 1.8 million workers).

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), serious injuries relating to tree work are 60 times the national average. Forestry work is a high-risk activity. 

Green burials are an increasingly popular option in Scotland as more individuals seek environmentally friendly alternatives for end-of-life arrangements. They often take place in woodland areas, and we are aware of at least ten local authority woodland/meadow burial sites, and nine privately run woodland burial sites in Scotland. However, they may be opposed if there are concerns regarding the location of the site and about the potential risk of water and soil contamination.

The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (the “Act”) was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 21 March 2024, receiving Royal Assent on 30 April 2024. 

We previously wrote about the Bill, which preceded the Act, here.  Not all sections of the Act are in force yet. 

With the summer months upon us, employers should be mindful of their obligations towards seasonal workers under health and safety law.

Seasonal workers present an acute health and safety risk for businesses, as these types of workers are as likely to suffer accidents in their first six months of a job as during the rest of their career.

This Farm Safety Week (22 – 26 July 2024), our health and safety team cast light on the year-round risks presented by the agricultural and rural sector, highlighting where responsibility lies and what steps can be taken to reduce risks. 

This year’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics once again highlight the serious risks present within agricultural and rural settings, with the sector experiencing the highest rate of non-fatal injury of any measured industry. These are significant dangers, which employers and landowners must seek to mitigate.