News In Focus
9 April 2009
McGrigors adds to Aberdeen health and safety team
Law firm McGrigors has strengthened its health, safety and environmental litigation team in Aberdeen with the appointment of senior solicitor Willie Park.
The move comes after an increase in the number of prosecutions involving company directors alleged to have breached health and safety regulations.
The expansion of the HSE team is also against the background of the recent introduction of the Health and Safety Offences Act which allows for directors to be jailed for certain key health and safety offences which previously would have been dealt with by a fine.
With the combination of a strong regulatory focus in the UK continental shelf and an aging offshore infrastructure, McGrigors anticipates an increase in the number of prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation in the offshore oil and gas industry, while an expected increase in levels of decommissioning work will also create particular safety issues.
Mr Park has more than eight years experience in litigation on behalf of companies and senior executives and has developed a focus on health and safety law, representing a range of oil service companies in the sheriff courts and Court of Session.