It doesn’t seem like three years have passed since the governments last budget review in 2010 but that time is here again and HSE is likely to be facing further budget cuts.
I can hear readers thinking ‘why should we be worried about that?’ and its a fair question but the impacts of further reductions in the HSE budget are likely to be felt by all of us as the regulator adapts to its new role as an enforcement agency with the power to collect fines.
The relationship between those who are regulated by HSE and the executive was changed by the introduction of Fee For Intervention (FFI) last October. It’s simply not possible to maintain this same relationship whilst charging a client £124 per hour. Similarly, it affects the old partnerships between clients and HSE where a partnership has been established over years of careful actions building trust between regulator and regulated.
By way of example, you would have to wonder now at the logic of asking an inspector to visit with the hope of gleaning some advice and information to improve safety management. Surely an Inspector must treat all of those regulated in the same manner, if this is true then any material breach which comes to light must then be handled under FFI, turning an innocent enquiry with the best intentions into something which will start to strip away the budget for beneficial change as the FFI charges begin.
We are aware that a great many within HSE remain uncomfortable with their new position as regulator and money collector but its no longer possible for Inspectors to resist the momentum of FFI, its become part of the working processes and targets must be reached if budgets are to be balanced and colleagues jobs secured.
Reference to our earlier post in March of this year gives the statistics on the acceleration of the FFI Scheme; HSE’s FFI Scheme starts to accelerate, refurbishment, solar PV / renewables and contracting to be hardest hit this can only continue as budgets are pared.
Beyond this, we will soon approach the anniversary of the introduction of FFI, at that point it seems very likely that the target (currently £37m each year) and the hourly chargeable rate (currently £124) will both rise.
If you need help or advice on health and safety please contact us or request a call back – or call and speak to a friendly expert on 01453 800100.
