Health, Safety and Environmental Regulation
We can help you to deal with the consequences of a regulatory breach, and to reduce the risk of one happening at all.

“The service received has been great, with prompt and attentive responses to requests for advice.”

Shepherd & Wedderburn client (2023)

When an organisation fails to comply with health, safety or environmental regulations, both the financial penalties and the reputational damage can be severe.

The risks are greatly reduced if you have adequate policies and procedures in place. We can help with this in a variety of ways, including assessments of your current arrangements and the particular risks that you face, advice on the impact of recent changes to the law, and tailored training for managers and staff. The experts in our team have done this for clients in a variety of industries, including oil and gas, energy, construction, transport and hospitality.

Our experience of working for various regulators, including a secondment at the Health and Safety division of the Crown Office, also enables us to offer a valuable perspective.

We can help during an investigation or prosecution: providing on-site support, liaising directly with enforcement authorities, advising on any disclosure obligations, and representing people being interviewed under caution. We can also provide advocacy at hearings, court proceedings and inquiries; and help to negotiate alternative methods of resolving disputes.

Our expertise includes:

Immediate emergency response and incident investigation
Liaising with regulators (for example, the HSE, SEPA, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales)
On-site support during investigations, including liaising directly with enforcement authorities
Advocacy at various hearings, substantive hearings and trial diets, and negotiating resolutions without court proceedings
Representation at Fatal Accident Inquiries
Representing people being interviewed under caution
Diligence exercises for property and corporate transactions
Advising on audit and risk assessment, policies and procedures, and the impact of new legislation
Delivering tailored training on obligations and liabilities

Meet our key contacts

Kevin Clancy

Partner

Meet our full team

Kevin Clancy

Partner

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Natasha Durkin

Senior Associate

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Philip Sewell

Partner

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Related articles and insights: Health, Safety and Environmental Regulation

24 July 2025

Overview of responses from the Scottish Government’s consultation on a proposed review of fire safety topics

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

The Scottish Government’s public consultation on a proposed review of fire safety topics closed on 7 March 2025. Having had the time to consider the consultation responses, the Scottish Government has now issued its analysis. This article explains that analysis and summarises what it all means for the hotels and hospitality sector.

23 May 2025

R. v LFH Moonfleet Manor Ltd: A timely health and safety reminder for hotel operators

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

This recent English appeal court judgment serves as a timely reminder for the hotel and hospitality industry of the importance of complying with the obligations set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (and associated regulations).

2 May 2025

Assessing and managing health and safety risks in the onshore wind sector

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

The onshore wind sector poses significant health and safety risks to workers. This article provides an overview of the duties and risks posed for employers in the industry, with tips on how to comply with regulations being provided. First published in The Herald.

27 January 2025

Scottish building regulations: Proposed consultation of fire safety topics

Contributor: Kevin Clancy

In December 2024, the Scottish Government published a consultation document in relation to a proposed consultation of Scotland’s building and fire safety regulatory frameworks. Comments on the consultation have been invited from those operating in the industry.

17 December 2024

Anatomy of a Fall: What duties do occupiers owe to those using their premises?

Contributor: Stephanie Hepburn

This article looks at Jon William Davie v Powerteam Electrical Services (UK) Limited and Vinci Energies UK Holding Limited in which the Court of Session dismissed a personal injury case at debate. This is an unusual outcome and highlights the duties of occupiers towards those using their premises. The case affirms that there is no duty to protect against reasonably foreseeable harm.