Health and safety cost recovery scheme to start in October 03 July 2012

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed that its cost recovery scheme, dubbed Fee for Intervention (FFI), is to commence on 1 October 2012, subject to the usual parliamentary approval.

Detailed guidance, developed in consultation with representatives from industry, has now been published on HSE's website, setting out how the scheme will work, with examples illustrating how and when it will be applied.

In brief, FFI will claw back costs from plants found to be breaking health and safety laws – compensating HSE for the time and effort inspectors spends helping to 'put matters right' – by which HSE means investigating and taking enforcement action.

Gordon MacDonald, HSE's programme director, makes the point that law-abiding businesses will be free from costs and will not pay any fees.

"Confirming the date for the start of Fee For Intervention and publishing the guidance will give duty-holders clarity and certainty about the start of the scheme and what they can expect," states MacDonald.

"It is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right – and not the public purse. Firms who manage workplace risks properly will not pay," he confirms.

The HSE Board recommended the introduction of FFI to ministers in December 2011. HSE says it has now completed a test run of the scheme in preparation for its start in October.

Brian Tinham

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