HSE Fees for Intervention challenged
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Fees for Intervention (FFI) scheme has come under the spotlight following a legal challenge at the end of 2016.
As a result, FFI will be the subject of a full Judicial Review hearing in the High Court in May 2017, brought by facilities management company OCS Group UK.
FFI was launched in October 2012 and allowed the HSE to charge companies £124.00 an hour for carrying out its regulatory functions, in cases where companies have been found to be in material breach of health and safety law.
OCS is challenging the scheme on the basis that it is unlawful or is being run in an unlawful manner. Its argument is that HSE is not being “fair and impartial” because it is acting as both judge and jury when operating the scheme.
HSE has said that it will be defending the Judicial Review but, given the time involved in such legal cases, it is unlikely to lead to any significant change in FFI in the short term.
Companies should still be aware that the HSE can impose fees of £124.00 an hour for its costs if it discovers anything wrong on site – and these costs can quickly escalate.
Aegis can assist companies by offering site inspections and audits where health and safety issues can be identified and addressed in advance of any potential visits by HSE inspectors.
To discuss how we can support you or your organisation, please call 01772 736 522 or email admin@aegis-services-ltd.co.uk