Plumbing contractors and other companies that contravene health and safety laws could have to pay £133 an hour for Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors investigating their offences, under government plans to recover costs.

The HSE has launched a consultation a three-month consultation on the plans, which it has said could recover £43.6 million annually across all industries.


The cost recovery plan could be introduced as early as next April.


Gordon MacDonald, HSE's programme director, said: "The government has agreed that it is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right – and not the public purse.


"These proposals provide a further incentive for people to operate within the law, levelling the playing field between those who comply and those who don't. Compliant firms will not pay a penny in intervention fees.


"We want to hear from as many people as possible about how we plan to operate the scheme, to help make its introduction as successful as possible."


HSE has said that costs would be recovered if during an inspection or investigation a failure to adhere to health and safety law identified by an inspector as requiring formal action is discovered. Fees would apply up to the point where HSE's intervention in supporting businesses in putting matters right has concluded.]]>


Law-abiding businesses will be free from costs and not have to pay a penny.


Under the proposals, HSE will recover costs at current estimates of £133 per hour. Costs of any specialist support needed by HSE would also be passed on. Invoices would need to be paid in 30 days.


The consultation document on cost recovery can be found online at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd235.htm