We understand there are lots HSE changes at higher level with the new CEO starting in November. One aspect the HSE has been tasked to look at is could the HSE provide commercial services in the future e.g. If company requested HSE inspector time should be made available at a cost; another idea is should the HSE charge for speaker fees.

The HSE is currently going through recruitment process to employ 36 trainee inspectors across the country; we understand they had 800 applicants for these positions. The standards are being set very high in terms of qualifications needed.

A recent report looking at the FFI has identified that there are around 3500 invoices issued every two months; the majority for an average of £5-600 per fine. Over the first 16 months of charges FFI has raised around £11 million. The amount collect has settled recently to around £1.7-1.8 million every 2 months.

If you work in the Manufacturing sector you are most likely to be hit by FFI and the busiest region in the country is the South East.

I`m sure you are wondering where this money goes to. The Treasury has placed a cap on what the HSE gets to keep from FFI; for the year 2013/14 its £17 million and for 2014/15 its £23 million. Anything over these figures goes direct to the treasury.