What Are the Penalties?
The penalties can be severe when you fail to comply with H&S legislation, especially when accidents and illnesses occur as a result of negligence on your part. At Green's of Haddington, we are experts in occupational health and safety in agriculture, gamekeeping, landed estates and many other rural businesses.
Don't be penalised for failing to uphold your responsibilities
​​The fine for failure to comply with Health & Safety Legislation has recently been changed so that an unlimited fine may be imposed per offence.
This has resulted in fines imposed for an accident after the middle of March 2015 having a significant increase in magnitude from any fine imposed for an incident before that date.
According to a study published in the November 2016 SHP Magazine, the average fine per breach of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 between Jan & June 2016 was £296, 131. In comparison, the average penalty in 2009/10 was £15,817
You will have "a record"
Having a bad health and safety record puts your business at risk, placing you under the increased scrutiny of HSE inspectors and the courts. It could leave potential staff unwilling to work for you.
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There are innumerable detrimental factors to neglecting health and safety - but a variety of benefits to being proactive and compliant.
It could affect your insurance
Insurance companies may pay lower levels of compensation for loss of a machine if you have not followed the letter of the law. You will have to cover the costs from your own resources.
In 2006, the highest fine ever for a breach of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 was levied against Transco following a gas explosion from a leaking gas main that levelled a house and killed a family of four in Lanarkshire. That fine was £15 million.
Contact Green's Of Haddington Ltd: specialists in health and safety in agriculture and the rural sector
01620 829666