Shops in Scotland began charging 5p for single-use plastic carrier bags on 14 October 2014. Under the previous free-of-charge system, Scots were using around 800 million new bags a year. Scottish Government figures for 2014/15 show that the new law resulted in an 80% drop in plastic bag issue - equivalent to around 650 million fewer bags. It is becoming second nature for shoppers to take a bag with them from home. As a result, the spin-off benefits are obvious - for the environment and the good causes receiving donations collected from the bag tax. Having to pay the penalty of a 5p charge, if you don't provide your own bag, has transformed plastic bags from a nice-to-have optional item into a "don't leave home without it" necessity. The fact that plastic bag provision by supermarkets has dropped by 80% since the bag tax came in suggests it is not an exaggeration to say that we now regard providing your own bag as compulsory. Personal injury claims in Scotland are also Continue Reading
How can you tell if someone has been negligent?
July 1999 was a momentous month for Scottish golf. The British Open returned to Carnoustie for the first time since 1975. More importantly, Paul Lawrie became the first Scottish winner since 1985 (and is still the most recent Scottish winner of a major). However, that championship will also be remembered for all the ‘wrong’ reasons French golfer, Jean van de Velde, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, throwing away a 3-shot advantage on the final hole. At the 18th, a par 4, he could have taken 6 shots and still won - but he took 7, in fact holing a decent putt just to get himself into the playoff which he eventually lost. His play on the final hole is true ‘car crash’ television as he seemed to regress to beginner standard in dealing with the rough, a bunker and a water hazard. One author has classified van de Velde's problem as one of 'overthinking' In his book “The Art of Thinking Clearly”, Rolf Dobelli explains that skills involve an element of instinct and feeling. Continue Reading
The Influence of European Law on Personal Injury Claims in Scotland
'What have the Romans ever done for us?' is one of the most quoted scenes from Monty Python's iconic film, Life of Brian. John Cleese as Reg, leader of The People's Front of Judea, poses the question at a secret meeting of the group, expecting no or few positive responses from his colleagues. This, he hopes, will reinforce the group's resolve to overthrow their 'pointless' and unwelcome rulers. Instead, their brainstormed list of the benefits of Roman occupation grows and grows, with great comic effect. Exasperated, in an effort to bring the discussion to an end, Reg snarls: 'Alright - but apart from sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the freshwater system and public health ... what have the Romans ever done for us?' (The next and final answer, before the meeting is suddenly interrupted by a threatening knock on the door, is: 'Brought peace'). The serious point, well made by this film scene, is that the influence of the Roman Empire in the Continue Reading
Lifting Operations Accident In Moray Firth Harbour Caused By Confusion In Communication
Confusion in communication is a common cause of accidents. It seems to have played a central role in a serious incident on the coast of the Moray Firth, recently reported on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website. A worker suffered facial and hand injuries as a result of an accident in Wick Harbour in January 2013 Brian Reid (‘R’), who was employed by a subcontractor, was lowered into the hold of a ship in a man riding basket lifted by a crane. Wind turbine components were to be unloaded from the ship. R was removing sea fastenings to enable the unloading to take place. Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Limited (‘HSCL’) was in charge of the lifting operation. Neither the basket nor R could be seen by the crane operator whilst R was in the hold of the ship The employee of HSCL who was in charge of lifting operations on the day was on the deck of the ship to provide a communication link between R and the crane operator by means of hand signals. After R had removed one of the sea Continue Reading