The HSE’s cost recovery scheme – Fee for Intervention – came into force yesterday and is designed as an incentive for businesses to manage health and safety effectively and to operate within the law.
It should also help level the playing field between health and safety compliant companies and those that break the law.
Companies that break the law are reliable for recovery of HSE costs including inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action. A material breach of the law is where an inspector judges it serious enough to notify the company in writing.
“It is right that those who fail to meet their legal obligations should pay HSE’s costs rather than the public purse having to do so,” said HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger.
Compliant firms will continue to pay nothing. For more information on the scheme visit www.hse.gov.uk.
