1. 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
2. You will have a “record”.
3. 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 & killed a family of four in Lanarkshire. That fine was £15 Million