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HSE to charge businesses £124.00 per hour
October 1st 2012 saw the HSE introduce their 'Fee For Intervention' (FFI) scheme that allows them to recover its costs for time spent with businesses where (in the opinion of the HSE inspector) they are in material breach of the law. The rate has been set at £124 per hour, which is nearly £1000 per day for advice that you have not requested. The HSE can invoice you for these costs even if they turn up un-announced.
Download HSE information on FFI
So what does this mean?
Lets say that you get an un-announced visit from an HSE inspector and after having a look around your business the inspector is 'of the opinion' that your business is in material breach of H & S law; (see common breaches below)
The inspector would normally tell you about the breach verbally then go back to his office and pen a letter to you detailing the breach together with the relevant regulations (chapter & verse). He may well arrange another visit to provide you with advice on how you can become compliant (even though you might not want another visit). The time spent on the letter and on the second visit (and any subsequent visits) will be charged to you at £124.00 per hour.
So in short, if an HSE Inspector spent 6 hours with you (includes time writing and travel time) you will be invoiced for £744.00.
What can you do?
Ensure all the main H & S elements (ie; as below) are in place. Safety4bodyshops.com is a great tool to assist Accident Repair Center’s and Bodyshops to be compliant.
Some common breaches:
• Unsafe machinery
• No risk assessments in place
• Risk assessments out of date or not suitable
• No H & S Policy or Safe-working Procedures
• No Health surveillance in place (lung-function - Hearing - skin etc)
• No COSHH Assessments (or out of date)
• No Noise Assessment in place
• No Fire risk assessment in place
• H & S not being managed
• Not having an Asbestos survey done
+ many more potential breaches ...................
"New Guidance on the use of 2k paints in spraybooths" - April 17th 2007
After consultation with Spraybooth Manufacturers and leading H & S Consultants, the HSE to bring out new guidance on using isocyanates in spraybooths. 'More soon'
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