HSE calls for higher fines

Fines for breaches of health and safety law should match the penalties firms face for breaking financial rules, the HSE has said.

Timothy Walker, director-general of the HSE said that fines for big companies that breach financial services law are six times higher than those for serious health and safety crimes.

Fines for breaking financial services rules have averaged £967,000 over the last four years for FTSE-350 companies, whereas fines for health and safety breaches have averaged £161,000 for these firms over the same period.

Walker, speaking on the release of the 2003 Offences and Penalties report, said the fines "remain too low to deter companies from committing more serious breaches". He said there has been no substantial change since the Court of Appeal said fines were too low five years ago.

George Brumwell, general secretary of UCATT construction union said: "It is a national scandal that human life is considered of such low value by the judiciary."

The Offences and Penalties report can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/off02-03.pdf