HSE looks set to implement cost recovery, how will this affect you?

The HSE recently outlined its plans to start charging businesses that aren’t fulfilling their legal requirements, and it now looks certain that these plans will come into force in April 2012.

Previously, if you were found to be non-compliant with the law, you would expect an enforcement notice, a prohibition notice, or a letter from an inspector. These would state that you would have to take action to rectify the situation. If you fulfil the requirements of the document, that is the end of the matter. However, in future the inspectors will still serve the notices and letters, but in addition will also include a bill to cover for their time.

Current estimates indicate that the inspectors will charge up to £133 per hour, and this could really stack up as the bill will continue to grow until the inspector is satisfied with your compliance. In the past, businesses would only be fined or incur costs if a prosecution was brought, this new system will mean businesses could be hit with a large bill even if the breach isn’t worthy of prosecution.

So what does this mean for you? Simply put, if you are compliant, you have nothing to worry about! However, if you are not compliant, you could be facing a significant bill, especially as the HSE may be keen to recover the costs it incurs annually (these costs amount to approximately £40million).

Our advice is not to leave anything to chance. Rectify anything obvious that may be picked upon by an inspector, and if you are unsure, just give us a call and we can come conduct a compliance audit of your entire business

Tell us your thoughts on whether you think this change is fair on businesses, and whether it could lead to your business incurring extra costs.

If you need help with making sure your business is compliant, give us a call on 01509 550023 to see how we can help you.