21.10.2005

HSE publish Penalties report

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its sixth annual Offences and Penalties Report 2004/5. The report is available on line in a printer friendly format.

For those working in the access business it is an excellent excellent source, with a number of reviews on particular cases, detailing the human tragedy behind the accidents, many of them concerning falls from height. The report also provides an exceptional amount of detail and trends on accidents and penalties.

This year's figures show that the HSE has prosecuted fewer cases and served fewer notices than in previous years.

“We have identified two major factors behind the drop. One is the steady decline in the number of accidents and ill health reported to us, the other is our better targeting of resources to investigation. We are investigating fewer incidents, but a greater proportion of these are leading to prosecution” said . Justin McCracken, the Acting Chief Executive of the HSE.

"HSE is also devoting an increasing amount of resource to working with the police on manslaughter investigations, and estimate that this is taking up about 10% of our investigation and enforcement resource. We believe that this is the right and appropriate use of resources” he continued.

The web only publication can be accessed at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/off0405/index.htm