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The fight goes on against the “despicable disease” that is mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a “despicable disease”, but there is an opportunity to “fight it head-on”. That was the message from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) at the launch of the latest phase of its No Time to Lose campaign.

The event was held on 9 April at BMA House in London. On the same day an IOSH-organised ‘thunderclap’ – a social media tool used to spread messages to as wide an audience as possible – was sent out from 295 social media accounts, reaching an audience of nearly half-a-million.

At the seminar, stakeholders and industry professionals heard how IOSH plans to raise awareness of the risks of exposure to asbestos – the most deadly carcinogen – in workplaces.

Scotland’s lawyers celebrate platinum

This year sees the 70th anniversary of The Law Society of Scotland. Given that the legal systems in Scotland and England have been famously different for centuries, it seems perverse that the country’s lawyers only acquired their own representative body less than one of those centuries ago. In fact the principal was established in 1933, but the little matter of World War Two got in the way of its implementation.

Nevertheless, a platinum anniversary is something to be celebrated and Scotland’s advocates are determined to do just that: especially as it coincides with the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, which paved the way for women to become solicitors for the first time.

Concerns mount over new terrorism legislation

The Law Society is one of many august organisations throwing up their hands in horror at some of the implications of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, which recently passed through its second reading in the Commons.

A rash of new measures throw a wide net around a large group of people without seeming to ask the question of whether they have actually done anything wrong. And having apprehended those people, the Bill seems to set no limits on the sanctions that can be imposed on them.

The Bill has been described as ‘Orwellian’ by some and bordering on ‘thought crime’ by the UN.

Expert witnesses in all spheres give evidence at Grenfell Inquiry

June saw the beginning of a series of hearings at the Grenfell Tower Inquiry involving expert witness presentations. The list of expert witnesses appointed by Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s inquiry is long and features academics and practising engineers in a number of engineering disciplines, architectural experts, fire officers and, chillingly, an expert in human identification, among others.

Grenfell has already led to the conclusion of one inquiry: the Review of Building Regulations by Dame Judith Hackitt. The conclusions of that review were quickly endorsed by LABC, the body representing local authority building controllers.

Psychological legacy of scarring must be considered in damages

The press – and indeed the public – have been occupied recently with a sudden and huge increase in the number of so-called acid attacks, where a corrosive substance is thrown or squirted onto the victim, in particular the face. From being isolated cases, often where the victim is known to the perpetrator – who deliberately aims to disfigure – they now appear to be the weapon of choice of mugging gangs who are more and more likely to be caught if they carry other weapons.

A quick response is essential on the part of bystanders, as is the correct response. The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons has launched a campaign to educate the public, around the slogan Report, Remove, Rinse.

In addition to the burns and disfigurement, such attacks can leave lasting scars. Living with those scars can have profound and debilitating psychological consequences in addition to the physical legacy. Indeed, scarring from any source, whether inflicted deliberately or the consequence of negligence or carelessness, can carry long-term psychological consequences.