Guidance for a cost recovery scheme being introduced by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) outlines the risks and regulations in advance.

The Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme, which will apply to all employers, employees, affiliates and members of the public, is due to launch on 1 October, subject to parliamentary approval.

The scheme has been developed in consultation with industry representatives and aims to recoup some of the costs of investigation and enforcement action from those businesses and organisations that are found to be breaking the Health and Safety laws.

Those who comply with the law will not be charged for any work that the HSE does with them.

Esther Purvey, Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) commercial manager, said: “We welcome the publication by the HSE of these guidelines on the FFI scheme and the move to charge those who break the rules. The scheme sends a clear message to those who flout health and safety laws that they will be faced with a charge for their actions or lack of action. We hope this scheme will increase the number of businesses that choose to comply with health and safety laws.”

The full Guidance on the application of the FFI document is available to download from the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse47.htm