THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently confirmed that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI) will come into force on October, 1 (subject to Parliament approval) and will affect business owners.

There is currently no charge when a HSE inspector visits a business premises, identifies a breach of health and safety law and suggests improvements.

The FFI will recover costs from businesses that break health and safety laws for the first time for the effort the HSE spends helping to put matters right, investigating and taking enforcement action.

Businesses will be charged a rate of £124 per hour and will not know the final figure until the end of the case, when they will have the opportunity to raise an objection.

Detailed guidance can be found on the HSE's website http://www.hse.gov.uk">www.hse.gov.uk .