Welcome to the website of the
Health & Safety Lawyers' Association
''Over recent years health and safety law has been increasing in scope and importance. I knew that practitioners, and ultimately their clients, would benefit if there was a dedicated platform of learning and debate. In 2005 I was lucky to find 8 likeminded practitioners. Together we made that vision a reality with the launch of the Health and Safety Lawyers Association, the “HSLA”. Our intuition that there would be considerable interest in the HSLA proved correct. The Right Honourable Lord Justice Scott Baker accepted our invitation to become Honourary President, and Mr Roger Henderson QC the Honourary Vice President. Both are, of course, extremely well known, influential and respected in the field. Over 170 barristers and solicitors attended the inaugural event in June 2005. Our membership now stands at over 400. It consists of academics and the whole ambit of practitioners, including in-house lawyers, compliance specialists, defence and prosecution representatives. We have also established a Scottish branch, with a dedicated Scottish events committee, and a sister organisation has recently been established in Ireland. Our membership includes some of the finest legal minds in the field of health and safety. Accordingly, we are in a position to offer expert views on the manner in which health and safety duties are complied with, investigated, enforced, and ultimately litigated before the courts. I have tasked my committee with building and maintaining an organisation which serves its members and the wider community not only through the provision of specialist, topical continuing professional development and debate, but by becoming the representative voice of lawyers specialising in the field. I want to steer us into a position where we are seen as a sensible voice with whom the legislator, regulators, trade bodies and industry wish to engage during debate upon what is necessary to ensure the introduction of clear, workable new requirements which do not conflict with existing laws. My ultimate objective is for the HSLA to play a part in improving health and safety in the workplace through the creation and development of clearly defined workable legal requirements, the dissemination of accurate advice and information to our members and through them their clients, and fair enforcement.'' Madeleine Abas, Chair of the HSLA |
LATEST NEWS
15/04/09 - Seminar in Bristol on Health & Safety Offences Act and Chargot
New Head of Litigation appointed at HSE |