Legal - HSE Recording

With the rapid advancement of the ‘no-win, no-fee’ culture, coupled with the successful corporate prosecutions by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the future for this service lies just as much in the ‘before-the-event’ photographic recording as ‘after-the-event’ photographic evidence. Organisations would be wise to protect themselves fully with a photographic survey of their site forming part of an overall risk assessment or to provide a record before undertaking any new building work, improvement or modification. 

A motor racing circuit was prosecuted by the HSE following an accident alleged to have been the direct result of alterations to a bend on the track.  As a result, the owners considered undertaking a full low-level aerial photographic record of every physical aspect of the circuit.  Furthermore, it was their intention to carry out the same procedure after any alteration or modification to record fully any changes that have taken place. 

In time, this service may well become standard practice for any organisation wishing to develop an historic record to cover the eventuality of any unforeseen accident, claim or prosecution.  Once an accident has occurred, hindsight is a wonderful thing.  However, a set of illustrative, 'before and after’ images is even better.