For over thirty years Hastam have been involved in numerous cases as expert witnesses, including contributing to high profile investigations such as the Buncefield oil depot explosion and the Potters Bar rail crash. More recently we have specialised in a range of industry sectors, and health and safety topics engaged by both prosecutions and defences, and also in civil cases. A particular specialism is acting for both prosecution and defence in LOCAL AUTHORITY cases.
Our team brings profound knowledge of UK HSE legislation, regulatory compliance, and management systems across a broad spectrum of industries and topics.
Several of our experts have been directly involved in developing the official guidance and standards that organisations rely on to meet their legal requirements and apply the principle of reasonable practicability.
Our approach is based upon the most up to date knowledge and research. We recognise that investigating incidents and acting as an Expert Witness is a profoundly challenging and demanding task but we never forget our key role is to help companies manage safety effectively to minimise the pain and suffering caused by injuries and ill health at work
At Hastam, we are committed to delivering independent, evidence-based expertise, applied with precision, thoroughness, and integrity in every case. That is why solicitors and barristers return to us time and time again.
Hastam’s Expertise in HSE topics
- Health and Safety and Risk Management Risk Assessment (including major hazards
- QRA ALARP), and suitability and sufficiency of assessments)
- Reasonable practicability
- Health and Safety Management and Safety Management Systems
- Process Safety and Process Safety Management
- Inspections and Auditing
- Component and structural integrity
- Safety Resilience Management
- Emergency planning
- Behavioural Safety
- Safety culture
- Human Factors and Human Reliability (and human failures taxonomy)
- Measurements of safety climate Hazards to health
- Management responsibilities and duties Competence (including training)
- Measurement and Monitoring performance
- Safe Systems of Work
- Security
- Permits-to-work procedures, pro-formas and record-keeping
- Supervision Incident Investigation (see also above)
- Advanced tools and techniques for risk assessments and incident investigations (eg, HAZOPS; FTA; ETA; CBA; CEA; ECFA; Change analysis; Tripod)
- Comprehensive knowledge of legislation, EU directives, ACoPs, authoritative guidance (eg, from HSE, BSI)
Hastam Expertise according to Industrial Sectors
- Construction (including Utilities and demolitions)
- Chemical Processes (including exploration, Gas and Oil storage and Refining; Sullage recovery
- Education (from pre-school to higher education)
- Manufacturing
- Music Festival Events (and Charitable Events)
- Conventional and Nuclear energy
- Railways (and also some aspects of road safety
- Social Housing
- Vehicles and Agricultural Machinery
- Woodworking
- Incident investigations in the above industries
- Food Industry, Food Production, Food Retail, Catering, Food Service, Hospitality, Food Manufacturing
- Waste management and Environmental Law
- Security (Public Sector and Government, Law Enforcement and Policing Critical National Infrastructure, Mass Gatherings, Cultural and Sporting Events), Local authority inspection and enforcement
Our Top Health, Safety & Environmental Expert Witnesses:
- Professor Richard Booth - PhD, FIMechE, CEng, CFIOSH Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, Director
- Doctor Mark Cooper BSc, MEng, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, CFIOSH
- Doctor David Wenham BSc, MSc, PhD, DipSH, Dip Law, AdvDipEdMan, CChem, MRSC, CFIOSH, FHEA
- Doctor Louise Smail PhD MA BSc MBCS, CITP, CMIOSH
- Tony Cheesman BSc.(Hons), PGDip OHS, CMIOSH
- Nick Staley MBA, DMS
- Tonie Davey MSc, CQP, MCQI, CMIOSH, Dip, NEBOSH, PIEMA, FPWI
- Sarah Stranks BSc (Hons),MSc, PgDip, CertIOSH, MIIRSM, AMIIAI
- Jonathan Backhouse CertEd, BA(Hons), MA MRes, DipNEBOSH, EnvDipNEBOSH, CFIOSH, FHEA
