HSE generates over £9m in FFI income
The Health and Safety Executive has released its latest results detailing the total revenue generated from fining businesses with its Fee For Intervention (FFI) scheme.
Employment law firm ELAS has calculated that HSE fined UK businesses over £9.6m in the 2013/14 financial year, resulting in a shortfall of nearly £7.5m as HSE is said to have budgeted £17m through the FFI scheme.
Under the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, companies that break health and safety laws are liable to cover HSE related costs, including call-outs, inspections, investigations and taking law enforcement action.
ELAS has revealed that businesses were fined a total of £9,644,864 for such breaches by HSE between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.
When previously asked about what the consequences of a shortfall may have for HSE, a spokesperson said: “Any shortfall in budgeted receipts is for HSE to manage within its overall financial position. The prevention of death, injury and ill health to those at work and those affected by work activities is paramount.
“We will continue to focus on high risk and poor performing sectors, taking formal enforcement action to prevent harm and secure justice where appropriate.”
Despite the shortfall, the revenue generated from fining businesses through the scheme is expected to dramatically increase, with the HSE budgeting FFI income to reach £23m this financial year.
Wayne Dunning, ELAS’s lead health and safety consultant, said: “That the HSE projecting to almost double the revenue generated from the FFI initiative shows that the watchdog feels many health and safety policies, assessments and training are not up to scratch and that any violations will be cracked down on.”
*This article previously stated that the HSE had generated over £12m in FFI income, however this was corrected on 15 June.
HSE generates over £9m in FFI income
The Health and Safety Executive has released its latest results detailing the total revenue generated from fining businesses with its Fee For Intervention (FFI) scheme.
Safety & Health Practitioner
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I, for one, will be very interested to see whether the introduction of FFI has a significant effect on accident reporting rates (or rather lack of reporting).