UKLawyers Archive of Personal Injury Materials - March 2006

Materials published by us on 23 March 2006

Duty of Care
Butchart v Home Office [2006] EWCA Civ 239
CA
15 March 2006
Daily Law Notes Report Summary
A claim for damages by a prisoner for psychiatric harm, alleging
that he himself was in a depressive and suicidal condition and
suffered injury as a result of being incarcerated by prison
authorities with a fellow prisoner known to be a suicide risk,
whose body following his suicide was found by the claimant and
whose death a prison officer blamed on the claimant, could be made
since the question to be determined was whether the facts were
sufficient to show the authorities owed him a duty to take
reasonable steps to prevent him suffering harm.

Materials published by us on 16 March 2006

THE INDUSTRIAL INJURIES ADVISORY COUNCIL (IIAC)
ANNUAL REPORT 2005/6
DWP Press Release
14 March 2006
http://digbig.com/4gsfk
In the past year IIAC completed reports on vinyl chloride monomer,
silica-related renal and connective tissue diseases, sporting
injuries and occupational voice loss. Currently it is completing
its review of the complete list of the prescribed diseases,
occupational coverage of chronic bronchitis and emphysema,
work-related upper limb disorders and extrinsic allergic
alveolitis. The report outlines IIAC's programme for 2006/7
including a review of occupational back pain and cervical
spondylosis.
Presumably a good source of information for lawyers. 
 

Materials published by us on 9 March 2006

Debt of Honour to Miners Reaches £3 Billion

DTI Press Release
6 March 2006
The amount of compensation paid to sick miners, their widows and
families has passed 3 billion GBP, Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks
announced today.  The government is currently paying out around 2
million GBP every working day in compensation for respiratory and
vibration related injuries to miners and families of the deceased.
 

Lord Hunt Dispels "Myth" Surrounding School Activities

DWP Press Release
2 March 2006
"A painfully good example of an excessive risk-averse decision
made with the best of intentions" was how Work and Pensions
Minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath described the decision by a head
teacher who required children to wear goggles when playing
conkers.  What we need to do is give confidence to school heads
and others to take on a sensible rather than over-cautious
approach. . . .
 

Occupational Voice Loss

DWP Press Release
2 March 2006
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council evaluated the available
scientific literature relating to occupational voice loss and
other vocal disorders. It concluded that there is currently
insufficient good quality epidemiological evidence of an
association between voice loss and particular occupations. The
Council recognises that this is an emerging area of research and
intends to keep the subject under review.