HSE’s cost recovery scheme 'Fees for Intervention' goes up
The HSE’s cost recovery scheme, 'Fees for Intervention' designed to shift the financial burden away from the tax payer to non-safety compliant businesses has gone up.
The scheme came in to force in 2012, as the then coalition government put pressure on individual government sectors to find ways of saving money. The HSE introduced the scheme as a deterrent to businesses that failed in their health and safety duties.
New hourly rate
Any ‘material safety breaches’ of health and safety legislation are subject to the new hourly rate that started in this financial year, April 6th.
It has become clear that the overheads and staffing costs at the HSE are still outweighing the income gained by the Fees for Intervention (FFI) scheme and that shortfall is showing increases each year.
In addition to this, the Treasury claws back most of the revenue from the FFI scheme. This allows the HSE to retain funds up to a cap. Although the regulator has consistently failed to generate as much as the cap. It seems an increase may help them achieve some financial stability.
So the 4% increase on £124 per hour to £129 per hour for their services to businesses who appear to fail in their duty of meeting legislative compliance will hopefully see the regulator continue to do the good work of protecting workers in the UK.
If you have some doubts over your current processes and wish to avoid the need of the HSE imparting this cost on to you, then call us at Quest.
We can review your workplace practices to help keep you and your employees safe. Health and Safety Health Check - have you completed yours yet? It has been designed to help you identify the areas where your business may need assistance and for us to assist in providing the best advice and guidance to your organisation. Once submitted you will receive a report detailing any process you need to follow to move towards compliance and it is all free.
