Health & Safety - the key challenges for you and your clients
£195 + VAT (member) / £245 + VAT (non-member)
We are delighted to be returning to the Hilton Glasgow for the first in our Scots Law 2023 Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.
Health and Safety issues are rarely out of the headlines with a number of inquiries currently running.
Chaired by Katherine Metcalfe of Pinsent Masons, this new conference, taking place at the Glasgow Hilton, will include topics ranging from the procedure and challenges of FAIs and Public Inquiries, advising clients on risk and expert witness evidence to fire and building safety, offshore renewables and the latest on sentencing. The conference will also include a presentation from COPFS on the role of their Health and Safety Investigation Unit.
Questions to be considered will include:
- what are the implications of employers’ different approaches to risk assessment?
- what is the role of the COPFS Health and Safety Unit and how does it engage with interested parties?
- what is the HSE’s new role in fire and building safety and how will Scots legislation differ?
- how do you get the best from your expert witness?
- what are the key safety risks associated with offshore renewables?
- what is the procedure and what are the challenges with major inquiries?
- what is the latest in relation to health and safety sentencing?
What's being covered?
Employers' attitudes to risk
Jenny will speak about employers' differing attitudes to risk. Employers all take a very different approach to risk assessment. Some attitudes have changed in the post-Covid era. Jenny will consider the implications of different approaches to risk assessment, and how the courts assess them.
Jenny Dickson, Morton Fraser
HSE’s new role in fire and building safety
This session will explore the wide-reaching reforms being introduced for England, including new fire and structural safety obligations, and CDM-style duties to ensure compliance with building regulations. How much of this will impact on Scotland, and how will our legislation differ?
Katherine Metcalfe, Pinsent Masons
Expert evidence
In this session we will cover the instruction of experts, looking in particular at: the role of the expert witness; a practical guide on how to get the best from your expert and how to ensure their evidence is admissible; and how courts approach expert evidence post Kennedy v Cordia,
Clare Bone, Brodies
Procedure and challenges with major inquiries
This talk will consider the procedure and challenges presented by Fatal Accident Inquiries since the enactment of the 2016 Act and will also look at current experiences in the preparation and conduct of Public Inquiries under the 2005 Act. This talk will be useful to practitioners engaged in the practice of FAIs and should assist practitioners with the relatively novel landscape of participation in Public Inquiries.
Emma Toner, Compass Chambers
The role of the COPFS Health and Safety Unit (HSIU)
This presentation will provide an overview of the work of HSIU in relation to prosecution and FAIs across Scotland. This will include the key aims and approaches of HSIU, how we engage with interested parties (in FAIs), defence solicitors and counsel and bereaved next-of-kin and future challenges.
Deborah Carroll, Gavin Callaghan and Lisa Hilton, COPFS Health and Safety Unit
Health and safety risks in offshore renewables
The offshore renewables industry is an industry that is set to undergo a huge period of growth over the next few years. With an emphasis on offshore wind projects, Natalie will be exploring some of the key safety risks associated with this type of work. In particular, she will look at the safety risks associated with the four main stages of a wind turbine’s life cycle and how the involvement of ships with this type of work can lead to the development of additional safety risks.
Natalie Walker, Pinsent Masons
Health and Safety Sentencing – it’s not all fine(s)….
In this session, Elaine will provide a general update on health and safety sentencing. In addition, she will look at the recent consultation paper issued by the Scottish Sentencing Council regarding driving offences which result in death and consider how the proposed guidelines sit with the approved guidance on sentencing of young offenders. Are the sentences passed in death by dangerous/careless driving fair and proportionate? Will the proposals change the current landscape?
Elaine Smith, Compass Chambers
