Richard Crockford - Partner
Head of Health and Safety
Experience
- Specialises in the conduct of health and safety, employment and environment matters arising in the rail, health, local authority, public utility, construction, demolition police and other public service industries.
- Regularly advises directors, HSE and HR managers on health and safety, environment and employment policies and procedures.
- Represented public sector companies on unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay and Trade union disputes.
- Represented companies and individuals at inquests, public and other inquires and in police and HSE/ORR investigations following major rail accidents at Clapham, Purley, Cannon Street, Cowden, Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield Potters Bar Lambrigg.
- Defended a major rail infrastructure company and individuals on manslaughter and health and safety charges arising out of the Hatfield rail accident.
- Defended and represented a major rail infrastructure company and individuals in relation to police and HSE investigations into the Ladbroke Grove rail accident.
- Represented scrap metal company and its directors in a manslaughter and Health and safety investigation and prosecution.
- Represented demolition companies and directors and senior managers in separate manslaughter and health and safety investigations following workplace fatalities.
- Represented crane company and director in manslaughter and health and safety investigations following high profile crane collapse.
- Represented agricultural company, director in health and safety prosecution following a multi-fatality workplace incident.
- Represented public and private sector companies following major oil diesel and chemical spillages and river pollution.
- Represented scrap metal and skip hire companies in relation to Environment Agency prosecutions.
- Represented an international hotel chain in a high profile food poisoning investigation and represented an international fast food company food safety prosecution.
Projects
- Setting up of systems and protocols for managing major incidents and assistance with management training on major incident response
- Setting up models for Accident Investigation in multi-fatality incidents
- Setting up systems for evidence and document control management procedures on behalf of public inquires, companies and public authorities in relation to management of large cases, high volume litigation and major incidents
Significant reported cases
- Clapham, Purley, Cannon Street and Cowden, Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield, and Potters Bar rail accidents and many other major incidents
- Lawal v Northern Spirit (various references)
- Grant v South West Trains Ltd 1998 ICR 449 (ECJ Case C-249/96)
- Norfolk County Council v Webster, BBC and Associated Newspapers Ltd 2006 EWHC 2733
Clients
- Rail
- Healthcare
- Public service
- Local authority
- Construction
- Manufacturing and retail
- Agriculture
- Waste management
- Demolition
Professional
- Fellow of Institute of Legal Executives
Publications
- Regularly writes articles for trade and legal publications
- Former Times "Lawyer of the Week"
Memberships
- Institute of Legal Executives
- Member of the Permanent Way Institution
- Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- The London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association
- Forum of Insurance Lawyers
Office
London
Telephone
020 7667 9073
Practice areas
Food safety
