Law Bulletin - February 2007

Electricity at work [Liability]

The claimant was employed by Gateshead Council as a lighting operative and was required to dig a hole for a new light column.

Condoning an unsafe work practice [Liability]

The claimant was an electrician for the defendant.

Frequency of inspections and falsified disclosure [Liability]

The claimant was walking across a grass verge at the school where she worked when she stepped on a manhole cover and it pivoted and she fell down, sustaining injury.

Falling from a ladder: Construction Regulations 1996 And Provision and Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 [Liability]

The claimant was an electrician sent by his employer to repair overhead heaters in a church.

Speed was irrelevant [Liability]

W had failed to notice a turning off a busy single carriageway road and tried to do a U-turn. Another vehicle managed to overtake W but D couldn’t and he collided with W’s vehicle.

Some better news on a limitation point [Practice and Procedure]

In a property case, the court has held that the court has a discretionary power, after expiry of the limitation period, to allow a claimant to plead a new cause of action based on the same facts as have been pleaded by another defendant.

NHS to recover injury costs from insurers in employers liability cases [Damages]

The Health and Social Care (Community Health & Standard) Act 2003 came into effect on 29 January 2007.

VWF award [Damages]

The claimant worked for Derbyshire County Council as a road worker.

What is REACH? [Health & Safety]

REACH is the Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Regulations, and is new European legislation aimed at ensuring that chemicals are properly tested before going on the market.