Georgina Kyriacou and David Malamentenios are partners and Melissa Powys-Rogrigues, Sandra Martins, Colin Makin and Krishna Santra are associates at Colman Coyle Solicitors. They round up the latest rulings.
The law on health and safety policy, organisation and performance audit and review, leadership of health and safety, and the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) "Plan, Do, Check, Act" approach to health and safety management.
The High Court has held that an employer was not liable for an HR professional's chronic fatigue syndrome because the employee's illness was not caused by her work.
The Court of Appeal has affirmed that, where an employee inflicts violence on another employee or third party, the vicarious liability of the employer for the employee's violent act will depend on the closeness of the violent act to the employee's employment.
A model letter after a meeting with a new or expectant mother to discuss removing or reducing risks has been held and it has been identified that temporary adjustments to their working conditions or hours of work are necessary to protect their health and safety.
A model letter to warn a pregnant employee who, for health and safety reasons, cannot continue to perform their normal job of the consequences of refusing an offer of suitable alternative employment.