Between February 2016 and August 2016, we have seen a significant HSE Fines increase. These totalled totalled £20.6 million, compared to £14.4 million in February 2015 to August 2015 (please note that these costs may in fact be significantly higher as the data does not include sentences imposed in cases prosecuted by local authorities). HSE…
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In July HSE ran a consultation on health and safety enforcement allocation with a view to how it shares its enforcement role with local authorities EHO’s (environmental health officers). A number of options were on the table ranging from completely absorbing the LAs’ regulatory powers for health and safety to allocating them greater duties. It…
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Research by law firm Clyde & Co. has shown that the number of company directors prosecuted by HSE in the year to 31 March 2016 more than trebled from 15 to 46 persons. In the same period the number of employees prosecuted has fallen from 10 persons to just 1. According to the research of…
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Health in construction is a big issue and HSE are pushing hard to get the message out to clients of all sizes that health in construction is a very high risk. The latest figures show that as many as 100 staff per week die from ill health causes through their job – and that’s just…
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Back in 2013 we wrote a post informing you of the changes which were made on strict liability which links directly to no win no fee liability; read our original post here A number of changes were put together which aimed to cap the costs charged by solicitors and to remove the incentive to make…
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In a move which we suspected might come to pass some years ago it has been announced that health and safety enforcement may change for smaller businesses. During July 2016 the HSE ran a consultation on health and safety enforcement allocation. Chiefly, it looked at the role of the local authorities. A range of options…
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Despite HSE insisting that its Fee for Intervention (HSE FFI) scheme is not intended to plug the hole in its finances caused by the reduction of its government grant recent figures show a 13% decline in enforcement notices (improvement notices and prohibition notices). At the same time a 26% increase in the charges made under…
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With almost 12 months elapsed since the introduction of Fee For Intervention (FFI) we have heard for the first time of an individual being fined under the scheme. The individual was employed as a scaffolder working on a Carey Housing project. The HSE Inspector was driving by the site when he noticed the scaffolder working…
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Commonly used Health and Safety abbreviations Use the underlined links below to find areas of our site where related services can be offered. If you have questions please call us on 01453 800100 to speak to an experienced safety consultant. These are common terms used by health and safety professionals and enforcement agencies such as…
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Summary of common British Standards used in Health and Safety HEAD PROTECTION BS EN 397: Specification for industrial safety helmets. BS EN 812: Specification for industrial bump caps. EYE PROTECTION BS EN 166: Specification for personal eye protection. BS EN 169: Specification for filters used in eye protection for welding etc (braze-welding, arc gouging and…
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