Health & Safety News Brief
Occupational Health & Safety Information Service
Don’t court trouble!
Health and safety practitioners working in the food, drink and hospitality industries will be finding out what goes on in a courtroom at an event in September.
Organised by the newly-formed IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) Food, Drink and Hospitality Specialist Group, ‘Prosecution in the food industry: It could be you’ aims to bring home exactly why companies should avoid finding themselves before the courts at all costs.
Tom Chambers, the chair of the Food, Drink and Hospitality Specialist Group (SG), said: “Failing to carry out your health and safety responsibilities properly could leave you, and your firm, in all kinds of trouble. An appearance in court is a daunting experience personally, but it can have terrible repercussions for the reputation of your business.
“And then, of course, there’s the damage to your employees, not only to those injured or killed, but the effect on morale to those who witness the incident.”
The event aims to give an insight into what a court appearance is like, and will be led by Barry Cotter QC, a barrister and recorder who sits on the South West circuit and has been associated with the Clapham Junction Inquiry and Ladbroke Grove.
Members of the audience will be expected to participate, while members of Food, Drink and Hospitality SG will take on the roles of plaintiff and witnesses.
The event takes place at the Leicester Stage Hotel on Friday, 29 September 2006, starting at 10am. Tickets cost £40 for IOSH members and £50 for non members, including refreshments and lunch. Discounts are available for group bookings of 10 or more places.
For more information about this event, or the Food, Drink and Hospitality SG, please visit www.iosh.co.uk/specialistgroups or call Ruth Thorpe on 0116 257 3144.
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 1NN, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)116 257 3100
Fax: +44 (0)116 257 9141
www.iosh.co.uk