New look health and safety scheme unveiled

A first look at a system to recover costs from firms who break health and safety laws has been unveiled by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In partnership with the government, the HSE has opened a three-month consultation period to iron out the finer points of the system after agreeing on the main principles.

Costs would be recovered if a breach in health and safety laws was discovered by inspectors with law-abiding businesses not having to pay a penny.

The HSE will also recover costs at current estimates of £133 per hour with any specialist support needed by HSE also being passed on. Existing cost recovery arrangements such as offshore oil and gas installations, some chemical and petrochemical sites and licensed nuclear installations would not be replaced.

Gordon MacDonald, HSE programme director, said: "The government has agreed that it is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right - and not the public purse."

The changes are set to be introduced via an amendment to the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2010.


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