November 25, 2002—Fines for exposing workers to risk are up 39%—and construction companies are the worst offenders, according to a new report by the UKs Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE published its Offences and Penalties Report for 2001/02, which identifies almost 900 companies, organizations and individuals convicted of health and safety offences during the time period.
Of the 1,064 cases prosecuted by the HSE, more than 84 percent resulted in conviction. The average fine for health and safety cases across the UK increased by 39%, from 8,790 in 2000/01 to 12,194 in 2001/02. This rise is mainly due to a marked increase in penalties handed down by the higher courts, where fines are unlimited. The lower court average fine is almost unchanged.
There were substantial increases in average fines for the construction (62% rise), manufacturing (47% rise) and mining and quarrying industries (20% rise). The average fine in the services and agricultural sectors remained largely unchanged.
Health and Safety Commission (HSC) chair Bill Callaghan said: “Health and safety offences are serious crimes. They can cause extreme pain and grief to the victims and their families and it is vital that the level of fines reflects this. While I would prefer not to see incidents and injuries happen in the first place, I am very encouraged to see that the average level of fines in 2001/02 rose by nearly 40 per cent. This sends out a strong message to the small minority of employers who do not take their health and safety responsibilities seriously.”
The Revitalising Health and Safety initiative, launched on June 7, 2000 by the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, and HSC chair, Bill Callaghan, aims to achieve, by the year 2010, a range of targets including reducing the incidence of working days lost from work-related injury and ill-health by 30%; reducing the incidence of people suffering from work-related ill-health by 20%; and reducing the rate of fatal and major injuries by 10%. There is an additional target to achieve half of each improvement by the year 2004.
—Fiona Perrin
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2002 i-FM
