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If someone believes that they have been injured or made ill by pollution that your business or organisation is responsible for, they may be able to make a claim against you for compensation. When it comes to pollution claims, ensuring that your business is compliant with all relevant regulations and laws can help to prevent this type of claim being brought in the first place, but if someone does attempt to bring a claim against you, you’ll need to seek expert legal advice as soon as possible before deciding how to proceed.
We can help with specialist advice on various types of environmental pollution claims or other environmental health legal matters, as our regulatory law team have a wealth of experience in this area of law. Get in touch with our team on 0161 696 6250 to find out more.
There are a number of environmental pollutants that are common in the UK. These include, but are not limited to:
Many of these come from road transport, but other industry plays a part in air, water and land pollution and sometimes businesses are found to have been involved in pollution in ways that may be considered unlawful.
All UK businesses have legal obligations when it comes to environmental matters, including the pollutants and/or emissions that they release into the environment through what they do. Some businesses also use hazardous substances or materials, which can also pose a pollution risk.
There are currently regulations in place in the UK relating to environmental issues like air pollution and water pollution that businesses need to be in adherence to. This is governed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (in England, Scotland and Wales) and enforced by local authorities and the Environment Agency.
These regulations are in place to not only help minimise the contribution that businesses make to climate change and wider environmental concerns, but also to help manage and limit the negative environmental pollution health effects of businesses and organisations in the areas within which they operate, both for their workforce and the general public.
This might include ‘nuisances’ such as:
If you are a business owner or landowner, there can be potential legal consequences if there is unlawful land, water or air pollution on the property or within buildings that you own/operate in. It’s important that you have expert legal assistance in the event of pollution events that exceed permitted levels or types which you are liable for, as this could result in potential criminal prosecution and also civil claims.
If an employee or a member of the public has been hurt or made ill because of pollution caused by your business or organisation, you can potentially face compensation claims as a result, which can be very damaging, both financially and reputationally.
It’s vital that businesses understand their legal obligations when it comes to areas such as environmental issues, like water pollution, to ensure they are compliant with all relevant requirements and also to minimise the chances of anyone having a valid legal claim against the company or organisation.
Air quality and pollution levels are monitored closely across the UK. Businesses that are found to be releasing levels of pollutants that are considered unacceptable can face strong consequences, including fines, civil claims from workers or the public, along with potential prosecution by the authorities, depending on the circumstances involved.
All parts of the UK have targets and other objectives in place for improving air quality, so if your business is responsible for introducing pollutants that have a negative impact on this, the likelihood of an investigation and potential enforcement action is high.
By taking specialist legal advice from regulatory lawyers with experience in this area of environmental law, you can put in place measures to ensure your business is compliant with all relevant legislation and guidelines.
If you are subject to a claim or an investigation, our expert team can also work with you to defend your business and seek the best possible outcome from the situation.
The regulatory law team at Stephensons have experience in helping businesses defend pollution claims and investigations, and also with helping ensure that businesses model best practice and compliance with the relevant requirements in all areas of their operations.
Our expert legal services in the field of environmental law always aim to achieve the best possible way forward for your business and our specialist knowledge and practical advice helps you to make informed decisions about your next steps until the issue is resolved.
Get in touch with our team today to find out more about how we can help your business with pollution claims and any other environmental regulatory concerns you may have.
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