In this episode, Doug Scott is joined by barrister Mark Davies to explore one of the most under-enforced yet pervasive issues in workplace regulation: work-related stress. Despite soaring rates of stress, anxiety, and depression – affecting an estimated 776,000 UK workers in 2023/24 – we’ve seen no prosecutions for failing to protect employees’ mental health.

Doug and Mark unpack the legal framework under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management Regulations 1999, asking why the enforcement statistics don’t align with the scale of the problem. They discuss the HSE’s stated commitment to tackling work-related stress, the challenges of translating that into action, and the tension between civil and criminal liability in cases of psychological harm.

From the “Goldilocks” prosecution the HSE may be waiting for, to the surprising parallels between stress and physical safety risks, this episode examines how regulators and employers might adapt as mental health becomes the next frontier of workplace safety.

For more information, including citations of referenced cases, visit: https://6pumpcourt.co.uk/regulatory-podcast-episode-4-overworked-and-under-enforced-stress-in-the-work-place/

In this episode, Doug Scott is rejoined by Dr Michael Bowes to unpack the final report from Sir John Cunliffe’s Independent Water Commissioner Review. The report, described as “dynamic” and “visionary,” proposes nothing short of a structural overhaul of water governance in England and Wales.

Doug and Michael explore the report’s central themes, including the ageing and fragmented water infrastructure, the case for regional system planners, the need for strategic planning over 5, 10, and 25-year horizons, and a move towards truly integrated regulation and governance. They also consider the political and legislative obstacles that could stand in the way of meaningful reform.

Packed with insights, metaphors, and more than a few jokes, the discussion highlights both the report’s transformative potential and the practical challenges that lie ahead.

You can also read Six Pump Court’s 30-page summary of the 464-page report here.

In this episode, Doug Scott is joined by Angelica Rokad to discuss the risks associated with silica dust exposure and the current regulatory regime. Angelica explains what respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is, how it arises in everyday industries like construction and manufacturing, and the serious health consequences of long-term exposure - including silicosis and other debilitating lung diseases.

They explore some of the requirements placed on employers under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, including the legal limits for exposure and obligations to inform and protect workers. Angelica highlights recent Health and Safety Executive prosecutions and discusses the tragic case of Wessam al Jundi, whose death prompted a Prevention of Future Deaths report questioning whether enough is being done to prevent similar incidents.

Doug and Angelica also discuss potential regulatory reform, including calls to lower the UK’s legal exposure limit and the international context, with countries like Australia banning engineered stone altogether.

In our debut episode, Doug Scott is joined by Dr Michael Bowes to discuss the Independent Water Commission’s interim report, released on 3 June 2025. The report offers a wide-ranging assessment of the water industry in England and Wales and the Commission is  chaired by Sir John Cunliffe. Michael, a barrister at 6 Pump Court with a doctorate in water law and over a decade’s experience in private practice, brings expert insight to this very important publication. The conversation explores the report’s key themes, its implications for regulatory reform, and what we might expect from the final version due later this summer.