Fee For Intervention. HSE to charge for interventions.

From 6th April 2012 new legislation will be in place that will allow the HSE to cover costs from companies that do not comply with Health and Safety Legislation.  This will be implemented as the Fee For Intervention (FFI) Scheme and the HSE are allowed to charge where they have had to intervene in a company who has breached health and safety legislation.

A consultation took place last year and the outcome can be viewed by visiting the following website, http://hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hseboard/2011/071211/pdecb1179.pdf.

This document contains comments from various organisations such as the FSB, CBI, TUC and other Trade Associations.  Concerns that have been raised include issues such as transparency, impartiality and the HSE’s relationship with industry. 

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) commented “Businesses could be less willing to engage HSE inspectors for fear of being fined, which could directly undermine the working relationship that business should have with HSE.”

The Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) were among many consultees who expressed a concern that cost recovery would change the work priorities of the HSE.  Additionally, the Institute of Directors commented that “[Cost recovery] will invariably drive the enforcement activities of the Health and Safety Executive’s inspectors” and noted that “businesses being pursued are likely to be otherwise law-abiding, profitable businesses from whom the Health and Safety Executive believes it can realistically recover cost”