HSE to make FFI dispute process fully independent

Consultation on proposals to remove HSE from cost-recovery scheme dispute process

THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it is to consult on proposals to make its cost-recovery scheme dispute process fully independent.

The scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), was introduced in October 2012 to shift the cost of regulating workplace health and safety from the public purse to businesses that break the law and ensures the cost burden of HSE intervention is picked up by those companies and not taxpayers.

If an inspector identifies serious health and safety failings in the workplace about which they need to write to the duty-holder, then that duty-holder has to pay the costs of the HSE visit. If the inspector simply issues verbal advice there is no charge. If there is disagreement on the HSE’s decision the duty-holder can dispute it.

Until now, disputes were considered by a panel comprising two HSE members and one independent person. However, after reviewing the current process, the HSE will now consult with relevant stakeholders with a view to making the process fully independent.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said: ‘The HSE has always kept the dispute process under review and, following a recent application for a judicial review, we believe the time is right to move to a dispute process which is completely independent of the HSE.’