Link copied!

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recovered £4.5 million through its Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme in 2024/25, charging 5,143 businesses for health and safety breaches. With an average cost of £875 per business, this highlights the financial impact of non-compliance.

What is a Fee for Intervention?

Fee for Intervention (FFI)  is the HSE’s cost-recovery scheme which allows the regulator to charge duty holders when breaches of health and safety law are identified. The current hourly rate stands at £184, covering the time HSE inspectors spend investigating breaches, taking enforcement action, and providing advice following non-compliance.

When would an FFI be charged?

FFI is charged when inspectors identify a “material breach” of health and safety law, typically involving failures to adequately control significant risks (such as working at height) or comply with fundamental safety management duties (such as creating RAMS).

The True Cost of Non-Compliance

The average FFI charge of £875 is only the beginning. Businesses facing FFI charges typically incur substantial additional costs:

• Senior management time addressing breaches and liaising with HSE (often 20-40 hours at £50-100/hour)
• Emergency implementation of corrective measures and revised documentation
• Project delays and potential contract penalties
• Damage to reputation resulting in lost tender opportunities
• Increased insurance premiums (often 15-30% increases for 3-5 years)
• Potential removal from approved contractor lists

A typical FFI incident can easily result in total business costs exceeding £5,000-£10,000 when all factors are considered. For serious breaches requiring multiple HSE visits, total costs can reach £20,000 or more.

How HazardCo Can Help You Avoid FFI Charges

• Risk Assessments & Method Statements: HazardCo develops thorough, site-specific documentation that meets HSE standards and addresses the hazards on your projects.
• Site Reviews: HazardCo app allows you to complete site reviews efficiently, identify potential issues in real-time, and implement suitable corrective measures to maintain compliance.
• Documentation Retention: The HazardCo app retains all documentation digitally in a secure, cloud-based system, ensuring your records are easily accessible whenever you need them.
• Plant/Machinery pre start checks: Use HazardCo to log checks for fluids, leaks, safety guards, warning signs, attachments, hydraulics, controls, brakes, and tyres, ensuring equipment is fit for use and documenting compliance digitally for easy access and record-keeping.
• Ongoing Support – HazardCo provides expert guidance when you need it, preventing costly mistakes.
• Induction Records – use HazardCo to log site inductions.
• Site Awareness – HazardCo shows you who is on your site, when they arrived and when they leave.
• Contractor Due Diligence – HazardCo can help with your pre-qualification before your contractors arrive onsite, including checking insurance.

Key takeaway: Investing in proper health and safety management with HazardCo costs significantly less than facing FFI charges and the associated business disruption. Full transparency, the yearly HazardCo membership can cost almost half the average FFI charge businesses are facing. 

Need help ensuring your business maintains robust health and safety compliance? 

Contact HazardCo to discuss how we can support your organisation in meeting its legal obligations and avoiding Fee for Intervention charges. Don’t give them a reason to look.