How to Avoid the HSE Fee for Intervention: Advice from Alistair Bromhead Ltd

Jan. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Up until October 2012, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) funded its own activities, sending out inspectors to check on compliance with their regulations and helping organisations to put right any breaches. Now things are different. In common with many government departments, HSE’s funding has been cut; government has declared that companies must pay for their own misdemeanours and the Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme has been in operation for some 15 months.

At £124 per hour for the time of the inspectors in discovering the facts, issuing the notices, and follow up work, invoices to organisations mount up, especially if a number of notices have been received. When HSE decides to target particular sectors, it is because they expect some non-compliance in these areas and there is often a spike in the number of improvement notices.

Dr Alistair Bromhead, recognised leader in health, safety and environmental issues, knows of one company which received 14 of them following one inspection.

How to Avoid the Stigma and Cost

Alistair Bromhead Ltd offers a range of services in his area of expertise, including training, consultancy and research work (see http://www.abromhead.co.uk/services.asp.) Some companies engage them for a site review before an HSE inspection takes place. The consultants identify the legislation that is relevant and recommend the best practice that will ensure compliance.

If the site doesn’t meet the standards required at the time, they work with the company directors and managers to develop an action plan to rectify this. Some organisations follow this by using their retainer services, so that they make some return visits and are always available to assist with issues that come up via email or telephone.

Protecting Personnel

Other services that companies find useful include noise surveys to ascertain whether levels are excessive and how they can be reduced. Alistair Bromhead also advises on suitable hearing protection and designated hearing protection zones on the site.

Manual handling training and training for trainers is an Alistair Bromhead Ltd specialism, and many of their courses are accredited by City & Guilds or IOSH. Find them at http://www.abromhead.co.uk/index.asp. With evidence of suitable and sufficient training, conducted by competent trainers, this is one less area on which improvement notices can be served.