HSE enforcement

A review of HSE enforcement by the Field Operations Directorate (FOD) presented to the HSE board last month shows that the number of prosecutions approved in 2009-10 was less than half (46%) of the 1999-2000 level. Enforcement notices are also down – with the 2009-10 level only 87% of that in 1999-2000.

The review reports that: “Prosecutions have been produced almost exclusively from RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) investigations. We have been concluding fewer investigations and therefore generating fewer prosecutions.” And it says that most prosecutions relate to safety rather than health – around seven times more notices were related to safety.

The report is available at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hseboard/2010/300610/pjunb1054.pdf