Supreme Court rules in mesothelioma liability case
The Supreme Court has given its decision in the appeal by insurance companies over their obligations under various contracts of employers’ liability (“EL”) insurance. In particular, the appeals concern the scope of the insurers’ obligations to indemnify employers against their liabilities towards employees who have contracted mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma has an unusually […]
Experts call for landowners to take more responsibility
Health and safety experts have called on landowners to take more care and responsibility when looking after trees on their land. In light of recent fatalities and injuries sustained from falling trees and branches, members of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) are reminding landowners and managers of the potential risks that failing […]
Demolition firm sentenced over asbestos danger
A demolition firm has been sentenced after knocking down a building in the Lake District containing hundreds of asbestos ceiling tiles, putting the lives of workers and local residents at risk. IBT Contracting Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after carrying out the work at a former photography factory, despite not […]
Window and door manufacturer fined after worker killed
A firm specialising in the manufacture of wooden doors and windows has been fined for safety failings after a worker died at its Leyton premises. Andrzej Rokita had been with M M Contracting Ltd for only ten days when he attempted to help his son, also an employee, to remove a large board from the […]
Irish Injuries Board annual review 2011
InjuriesBoard.ie has published its review of 2011, which shows that compensation totalling €210 million was awarded in 2011 in respect of 9,833 personal injury claims. The average award in the period was €21,339. During the year the Board made an award of €829,444, its highest to date. Award values via the Injuries Board remained consistent […]
Leading horse trainer in court after worker’s fall
The owner of racing stables in North Yorkshire has been prosecuted after a yard worker fell more than three metres through a skylight in a stable block. Paul Cussons, who had worked at Thorndale Farm near Richmond for 26 years, was asked by trainer and bloodstock agent Alan Swinbank to cut down some overhanging trees […]
Girl awarded compensation for car crash injuries
A young girl who suffered severe injuries after she was involved in a car crash has been awarded a compensation payment worth millions of pounds, reports the Daily Mail. Cerys Edwards, who is now six-years-old, was only a baby when her family’s car was hit head-on by a car being driven on the wrong side […]
EC calls for immediate action on medical devices
European Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli has called on Member States for immediate action to be taken at national level to ensure full and stringent implementation of the current legislation on medical devices. Following the discovery of the use of non medical grade silicone in breast implants manufactured by the Poly Implant Prothèse […]
Health Board fined after patient contracts legionnaires’ disease
Lanarkshire Health Board has been fined £24,000 at Hamilton Sheriff Court for a breach of Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which led to the serious illness of a hospital patient. Over the course of November 2008, the 64-year old female patient at Hartwoodhill Hospital became gravely unwell. She […]
Firm fined after technician’s death at factory
An experienced technician at a plastic products factory in Cornwall was killed after he was crushed between the plates on a machine used to make plastic lids. The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Curver UK Ltd (formerly Contico Europe Ltd) for failing to provide adequate safety measures. Truro Crown Court heard that in preparing the […]
