Health & Safety enforcements – what to look out for

Health & Safety enforcements: What to look out for

Breaching Health & Safety law when a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspector comes to call can be expensive. Under Health & Safety enforcement rules, you don’t just risk prosecution, you also have to pay for the time it takes the inspector to identify what you’ve done wrong and advise you on how to put it right.

This is known as the Fee for Intervention (FFI). The cost-of-recovery rate for FFI is now £183 per hour for 2025/26, which means even relatively small breaches can quickly become very costly for a business.

With budgets under pressure and the cost of living rising, it’s more important than ever to understand how Health & Safety at work is enforced and what HSE inspectors are currently focusing on.

In this FREE guide, you’ll learn:

• What is the FFI? — Understand how the FFI model works in practice, when you might be charged, and how it links to Health & Safety enforcement regulations.
• The six top Health & Safety areas the HSE are cracking down on — We walk you through the key risk areas inspectors are targeting.
• Handy checklists to make sure you’re compliant in each area — For every enforcement focus area, you’ll get simple checklists you can use to check your own controls before an inspector arrives.
• Your next steps — Practical guidance on what to do now you’re prepared, compliant, and confident about enforcement Health & Safety activity on your site.

Simply enter your details in the form to download your FREE copy and get complete, lifetime access.

What is the FFI, and how does Health & Safety enforcement work?

The FFI regime is part of the HSE’s Health & Safety enforcement. The inspector identifies what’s known as a ‘material breach’ of Health & Safety law; they can charge you for the time they spend investigating, advising, and taking any action.

Because the FFI is charged at £183 per hour for 2025/2,6 these costs can mount up quickly, especially if they find multiple issues during a single visit. Our guide explains how this links to the enforcement of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and other enforcement regulations, and what you can do to reduce the chances of inspectors finding a material breach in the first place.

It also answers the common question of “who enforces the HSW”, explaining the role of the HSE in inspections and enforcement activity.

The six key Health & Safety areas HSE inspectors are focusing on

As part of its current strategy to reduce work-related ill health, the HSE has identified several priority areas for the enforcement of Health & Safety at Work.

1. COSHH and occupational hygiene

• Hazardous substances (like welding fume, metalworking fluids and wood dust)
• Noise and vibration risk assessments and health surveillance

2. Machine maintenance and guarding

• Safe systems of work and lock-out/tag-out procedures
• Guarding and following the manufacturer’s instructions
• Training for operators and maintenance teams

3. Working at height

• Suitable and sufficient risk assessments
• Competence of those carrying out work at height
• Permits to work, weather conditions and access equipment checks

4. Workplace transport

• Transport risk assessments, blind spots and pedestrian interactions>
• Site layout, loading/unloading and reversing arrangements
• Driver training and the use of banksmen or traffic marshals

5. DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations)

• DSEAR assessments where required
• Reducing exposure to dangerous substances and controlling explosion risk
• Evacuation and emergency procedures

6. Fire safety and stress

• Fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks and fire marshal training
• Clear access and egress routes and unobstructed muster points
• Stress risk assessments, mental health training, Mental Health First Aiders and Employee Assistance Programmes

Handy checklists to keep you compliant

For each of the HSE’s six key focus areas, our guide includes straightforward checklists you can work through with your managers and Health & Safety reps. They’re set out as clear, practical prompts covering essentials like COSHH controls, machine guarding, working at height, workplace transport, DSEAR, fire safety, and stress management.

These checklists make it easier to:

• Spot gaps in your controls before an inspector does
• Prioritise the actions that’ll have the biggest impact on risk
• Show you’re taking Health & Safety enforcement seriously and actively managing your duties

Whether you’re double-checking your fire precautions, reviewing exposure to hazardous substances or sense-checking how you manage workplace stress, the checklist gives you a clear, structured starting point to get inspection-ready.

Your next steps

If the idea of an HSE inspection makes you nervous, our guide will help you feel much more in control of the enforcement of Health & Safety at work in your business.

Download your free guide today and start putting together something that supports compliance, clarity, and confidence across your organisation. With our affordable, all-in-one Health & Safety package, you can get 24/7 advice, hands-on support, and total peace of mind. From online Health & Safety training courses and risk assessment support to our unique advice guarantee and expert policies, our Health & Safety consultants will make sure your business achieves all your goals.