» Back to listing HSE's 'Fees for Intervention' (FFI) scheme postponed

 The HSE's 'Fees for Intervention' (FFI) scheme under which it plans to recover its investigation costs from businesses it finds to be in breach of health and safety law, will not now start in April, as originally planned.

The regulator has announced today that further discussion of "technical details" is required before the scheme can be launched. Owing to parliamentary process this means it will likely not come in now until October this year.

The HSE's programme director, Gordon MacDonald, said: "The Government has agreed that 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.

"Discussions are still taking place on the technical details of the scheme, which we expect to conclude soon. Therefore, FFI will not be introduced in April but at the next available opportunity, which is likely to be October 2012."

The HSE said it will take advantage of the extra time to work further with businesses to improve their understanding of the scheme and how it will affect them. A practice run of the new processes and procedures underpinning the scheme is already underway.  All those who will be involved in implementing it are involved; for example, inspectors who uncover material breaches, or contraventions – which will be the trigger for costs recovery when the scheme goes live – are explaining to the duty-holders what this means and what the implications for them would be if the scheme were already in force.

Detailed guidance for employers and organisations will be available on the HSE's website ahead of implementation.