Health and Safety prosecution for Kevin Slack

March 22, 2016

Kevin Slack from Exchange Chambers has represented the Health and Safety Executive in one of the first cases in which the new Sentencing Guidelines, which came into force on 1 February 2016, have been applied to a large organisation.

Chemical company Syngenta was fined £200,000 after a potentially deadly weedkiller was accidentally released at its Huddersfield plant.

Leeds Crown Court heard at least three and a half tons of highly toxic paraquat escaped from an isotanker while it was being filled on December 12, 2014. 

Syngenta admitted two charges contravening regulations, namely failing to take all measures necessary to prevent a major accident and failing to ensure that work equipment was maintained in an efficient state, the firm’s first conviction.

Kevin is a member of the specialist Regulatory Advocates Panel (List B). Kevin’s experience of health and safety prosecutions is complemented by his work in other regulatory fields. He has prosecuted on behalf of the Environment Agency for the last decade. Kevin has also gained experience of the regulation of medical practitioners by presenting cases on behalf of the GMC before the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service.

Kevin is a key member of our dedicated Health and Safety department in Chambers.