Work addressing employers' duties in Wales to protect employees from workplace injury and disease, covering hazardous exposures, health surveillance, absence management, fitness‑for‑work and handling of employees' health data. Solicitors advise on compliance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations, prepare and review risk assessments, asbestos, vaccination and PPE policies, design occupational‑health surveillance and testing protocols, and put in place data‑sharing and consent arrangements under the Data Protection Act 2018. They prepare statutory incident reports under RIDDOR, deal with HSE or local authority enforcement activity, liaise with occupational health providers and insurers, and represent employers at Employment Tribunals and in civil or criminal proceedings. Practical progress is shaped by medical and hygiene evidence, statutory reporting duties and any Welsh Government guidance that supplements national regulation.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
Solicitors handle compliance with COSHH and Management Regulations, prepare RIDDOR notifications, respond to HSE or local authority enforcement, coordinate occupational‑health experts and manage interactions with insurers and employment tribunals. They also ensure workplace policies meet data‑protection and equality obligations, and that contractual and pension arrangements reflect ill‑health and phased‑return provisions.