Health and safety fines rise by over a third

THE average fine for health and safety cases across Great Britain increased by 39% in 2001/02, according to the Health & Safety Executive’s recently published Offences and Penalties Report for 2001/02, which identifies almost 900 companies, organizations and individuals convicted of health and safety offences during this period.

The HSE says the rise is mainly due to the marked increase in penalties handed down by the higher courts, where fines are unlimited, while the lower court average fine remains almost unchanged.

According to the report, there were substantial increases in average fines across a number of industries including: construction, up from £4,692 in 2000/01 to £7,594 in 2001/02 (62% rise); manufacturing, up from £6,158 to £9,083 (47% rise), and mining and quarrying, up from £14,589 to £17,550 (20% rise).

Describing health and safety offences as ‘serious crimes’, Health & Safety Commission chair Bill Callaghan said it was vital that the level of fines reflected the extreme pain and grief that such offences can cause to victims and their families.

‘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%,’ he said. ‘This sends out a strong message to the small minority of employers who do not take their health and safety responsibilities seriously.

‘In general, fines for health and safety offences have been too low in the past. It is, of course, for the courts to decide what penalties should be imposed, but I very much hope that this is the start of an upward trend, rather than a one-off,’ he added.