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Under criminal law what health and safety duties does an employer owe to its employees?

What is the basis for the prosecution of an organisation under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007?

Under common law what are an employer's health and safety duties to its employees?

Do employees themselves have any duties with regard to health and safety?


What can employers do to avoid problems arising from work-related social events?

It is good practice for employers to designate responsibility for supervising work-related social events to specific managers. They should be provided with guidelines on dealing with drunk or disorderly employees. The supervisors should be advised that they themselves are required to stay sober.

While employers might want to provide a couple of free drinks for employees, they should remember that a free bar throughout the event will encourage excessive alcohol intake. It is advisable to limit the supply of free alcohol, and ensure a plentiful supply of low-alcohol alternatives, water and soft drinks.

Employers have a duty of care to employees and must consider how they will get home after work-related social events. They should issue advice in advance of an event about not drinking and driving, and encourage staff to think beforehand about how they will get home. Employers could consider hiring coaches or minibuses to leave at set times towards and at the end of the event, or providing the telephone numbers for local taxi firms.

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If an employee agrees to work more than the limit imposed by the Working Time Regulations 1998, can the employer be held liable if the employee becomes ill as a result of working long hours?

Are there any specific health and safety obligations relating to the employment of older workers?

What are an employer’s responsibilities to an employee on a work assignment abroad who becomes stranded due to political violence or rioting in the area?

What should an employer do if an employee is due to go abroad on a work assignment to an area that becomes affected by political violence or rioting?

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