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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is responsible for regulating workplaces in the UK, has announced that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), will begin in October this year.
It is designed to help the HSE cuts costs by allowing it to recover money for investigative and enforcement work when firms have broken safety laws. The HSE insists that companies which comply with the relevant regulations will not be charged.
"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. Firms who manage workplace risks properly will not pay," explained Gordon MacDonald, HSE's programme director.
However, some within the construction industry have raised concerns about the high costs of falling foul of the scheme as the proposed hourly rate for 2012/13 is £124.
One contractor told Construction Enquirer: "At a time when most contractors and subbies are having to argue over charge out rates of £20 to £45 an hour, here comes your local expert at box ticking charging three or four times that."
Author: Editor Gavin Pearson (gpearson@acenet.co.uk or 0207 202 0255)
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