Occupational health, safety and security
We have one of the largest and most experienced occupational health and safety (OHS) and security and anti-terrorism legal teams in the world.
The team has acted in a number of high profile matters and incidents globally and regularly advises private and public clients across industries on OHS compliance strategies.
We are a leading provider of emergency response and crisis handling services around the world. Our global 24/7 emergency response service ensures our clients can obtain assistance and advice at the very time it is most needed. Members of our team have handled some of the most high profile incidents around the world, most recently the 2009 Montara explosion and the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine disaster in Australia to the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster. From the 2000 Air France Concorde crash, to railway collisions in Australia such as the 2007 Singleton rail crash and the 1998 HMAS Westralia fire, we have successfully handled a number of high profile crises, assisting our clients navigate through the minefield of legal and commercial risks associated with such events.
This 24/7 emergency response service includes attending the sites of incidents as soon as possible, conducting, advising and assisting with internal investigations and assisting our clients in dealing with the relevant government regulatory authorities, media and stakeholders. The service includes the media response, response to clients, suppliers, contractors, internal stakeholders, liaising with regulators and attendances at regulator interviews. We also provide legal advice arising from those incidents including representation in court, coronial inquests and appeals against notices.
In Australia, the team is led by Michael Tooma who is recognised as one of the leading experts in OHS law in Australia (Best Lawyers 2010, 2011) having written, lectured and practised extensively in OHS law. The team also includes leading lawyers Barry Sherriff and Mike Hammond. Barry was one of the architects of the harmonisation of OHS laws in Australia having been part of a three member expert panel which reviewed the OHS laws.
In London, the team is led by Caroline May and Neil Q. Miller. Richard King leads our team in Canada.
We pioneered occupational security law practice: laws regulating the security and terrorism risks associated with legitimate business undertakings. We have assisted a number of clients on compliance with this emerging area of law. We have developed security management systems for clients in the transport, energy and financial institutions industries.
Services
Safety
- Global 24/7 emergency response service
- Development of directors and officers' due diligence frameworks
- Corporate social responsibility policy frameworks and corporate governance listing rules advice for OHSS
- Board presentations on OHS requirements and frameworks, due diligence and safety culture
- Development and implementation of tailored OHS management systems including contractor and sub-contractor management
- Risk assessments, Safety Case Development and industry-specific Hazard Management Plans
- Development of specific OHS policies and programs
- Interface co-ordination plan development
- Development of OHS clauses for contractual arrangements including lending agreements, investment agreements, sale and purchase agreements, develop and construct contracts, construction contracts, labour hire agreements, offshore exploration contracts and maintenance contracts
- Development of safety in design strategies and facilitation of safety in design workshops
- OHS due diligence for acquisitions and disposals of companies and properties
- Development of employee manuals and handbooks
- Provision of tailored OHS training workshop packages to all levels of organisations (from Board, to senior management, to line managers, to supervisors, to workers at the “coal face”)
- Learnings from Disasters advice and training
- Developing OHSS organisational structures and reporting systems
- Assisting in the development and implementation of OHSS-based safety capital programmes incentive schemes
- Development of behaviour based safety and safety culture programmes
- Legal advice, including representation in court regarding coronial inquiries, prosecutions and responses to and appeals against notices
- Development of legal protection strategies
- OHS legal compliance audits - We have developed a unique auditing tool for conducting legal compliance audits
- Development of internal audit tools and checklists
- OHS benchmarking
- OHS Peer Review Programmes
- Chain of responsibility advisory services
- Assisting with rail safety accreditation
- Maritime safety advisory services
- Aviation safety advisory services
- Mine safety advisory services
- Oil & gas safety advisory services
- Development of and advice on international standards
- Regulatory drafting
Security
- Security management systems and security risk assessments
- Financial Institution security risk assessment, including hold-ups
- Security and anti-terrorism compliance and risk management programmes
- Critical infrastructure resilience & protection
- Major hazard facility security plans and safety case management
- Security sensitive dangerous goods
- Security sensitive biological agents
- Security and anti-terrorism legal compliance audits
- Security and anti-terrorism legal training
- Advice on remote and isolated worker protection
- Emergency plans and business continuity management
Health
- Advice regarding asbestos compliance issues including asbestos incident management
- Advice regarding exposure to hazardous substances
- Advice regarding atmospheric monitoring
- Advice regarding nanoparticles management
- Stress management programmes
- Bullying and harassment enquiries and management strategies
- Health and well-being programmes Advice on medical evacuation and remote worker assistance
- Fatigue management plans
- Management of ill and injured workers