28th September 2020

September news letter

In our September newsletter, we report on one piece of new legislation providing protection of the environment and amendments to legislation on climate change and health protection.  We cover three pieces of legislation from the Republic of Ireland and one from the EU.  We report on progress on The Climate and Ecology Bill 2019-21 and the Fire Safety Bill 2019-21.  The EA are consulting on new guidance for facilities that take non-hazardous and inert waste for treatment or transfer. There are two prosecutions of note.

24th September 2020

Water jetting firm fined £2,000,000

A West Midlands specialist industrial services company has been fined £2,000,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs after a worker suffered a fatal injury whilst cleaning waste-water pipes. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company recognised the risks of operating high-pressure water jetting equipment, but they had failed to put in place appropriate measures to mitigate the risks. They had not implemented or enforced the use of various control measures, which were missing at the time of the incident and, training and supervision were also not up to standard.

24th September 2020

SI 2020/1029

SI 2020/1029. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020. Comes into force 24th September.  These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020. They impose restricted opening hours and other restrictions on certain businesses in England selling goods or providing services.  They also make changes to the restrictions on gatherings in England.

16th September 2020

EA consultation

The Environment Agency is consulting on new guidance about appropriate measures for permitted facilities that take non-hazardous and inert waste for treatment or transfer.  Consultation closes 13th November https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/environment-and-business/appropriate-measures-for-permitted-facilities/