Warning over fake Health and Safety agencies

"THE Health and Safety Executive is warning companies and other organizations to ignore information from three firms, all based in north-west England, who purport to regulate health and safety legislation."

"The Liverpool-based Health and Safety Enforcement Agency (HSEA), Manchester-based Health and Safety Compliance Agency (HSCA) and Rochdale-based Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division (HSRED) have written to companies all over Great Britain asking for between £125 and £249 to ensure that they comply with health and safety law."

"‘None of these companies is connected to the HSE and there is no legal need for anyone to buy literature or services from them,’ said the HSE’s deputy director general, Justin McCracken. ‘Organizations should be very wary of any approach from these firms, or any company offering similar services. All three firms use wording suggesting they are official enforcement bodies, but they are not."

"‘These companies are asking for significant sums of money, claiming they will send out information, much of which the HSE provides free of charge. The HSE never writes indiscriminately seeking advance payment for services which it has not provided,’ added Mr McCracken."

"The HSE is liaising with trading standards offices and the police, who are currently investigating all three companies. "