EHSsential: environment, health and safety news - October 2020

• United Kingdom

• Environment
• Health and safety
• Litigation and dispute management

12-10-2020

HEALTH & SAFETY

New Fire Safety bill proposed by UK Government

Organisations are encouraged to review their fire safety standards in lights of the Government’s proposal to introduce a new Fire Safety Bill (FSB). This is likely to see an increase in enforcement and in the level of fines within this arena. Many will say the new FSB is overdue and is a welcomed addition to the new measures which are being introduced following the Grenfell Tower review. So what is the FSB and what does it mean for owners of multi-occupied residential buildings? Sarah Valentine, Senior Associate, Charlotte Wood, Associate and Sharon Nath, Trainee Solictor look into this further.

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Update on COVID-19 Temperature Testing: guidance from the MHRA

Many organisations who have remained operational during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those now seeking to reopen the workplace following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, have considered temperature screening as a way of minimising the risk of workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 entering the premises. Many have implemented such screening as part of their overall management of the risk of transmission in the workplace. Tim Hill, Head of EHS, Catherine Henney, Principal Associate and Claire Watson, Associate explore this further.

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Will COVID-19 have a lasting impact on workplace health and safety?

There is no doubt that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will have a long-lasting impact on the economy, businesses and working lives, but has the pandemic also successfully moved health and safety to the top of the organisational agenda, and what lasting impact will this have on workplace safety? Laura Shirley, Principal Associate, and Danielle Pym, Trainee Solicitor analyse the HSE’s recently published annual workplace fatality statistics and consider longer term trends.

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FOOD SAFETY

Update from GOV.UK – New voluntary calorie guidelines to help industry tackle obesity

With almost two-thirds of adults in England classified as overweight or obese [source https://www.gov.uk/government/news/excess-weight-can-increase-risk-of-serious-illness-and-death-from-covid-19], the government has launched a national effort against COVID-19 and obesity. A recent Public Health England report found that being obese or excessively overweight can significantly increase the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. Natascha Gaut, Senior Associate and Claire Watson, Associate explore this further.

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Food allergens

Head of Food and Beverage sector Amanda Partland and Senior Associate Natascha Gaut discuss the law around food allergens and pre-packed products for direct sale and the new regulatory changes that will come in effect in 2021.

Click here to watch

WEBINARS & EVENTS

COVID-19 Health and Safety and Employment Clinics

A series of EHS-led COVID-19 Health & Safety and Employment Clinics took place providing participants with an opportunity for a live Q&A format.

Listen to recording of the webinars here

Click here to access the EHS website