The Impact of an HSE Investigation
An HSE investigation can have far-reaching consequences for a business, including:
🟠Financial Penalties: Severe breaches of health and safety regulations can result in hefty fines, which can significantly impact a company's bottom line.
🟠Legal Action: In some cases, HSE investigations can lead to criminal prosecution, potentially resulting in imprisonment for individuals responsible for the breach.
🟠Damage to Reputation: Even if a business is found not guilty, an investigation can damage its reputation and lead to negative publicity.
🟠Loss of Business: Customers may be less likely to do business with a company that has been involved in a health and safety incident.
Here are a few examples of investigations which have ended in prosecutions this year:
👉 National Grid fined £3.2 Million - The National Grid was fined more than £3million after its failures left a man with life-changing injuries from working on a pylon in South Wales. He received an electric shock of 33 thousand volts and sustained burns to 40 per cent of his body. National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) Plc and 4 Power Ltd both received fines in relation to the incident, which happened on 3 December 2020.
👉 D&D Commercial Services Limited fined £54,000 - An Essex-based tyre refurbishment company was fined £54,000 following a worker sustaining significant injuries after being drawn into a machine. The machine had been freewheeling to a stop after being used, when the worker was drawn into it by his t-shirt, which resulted in part of his torso being shredded. The incident happened on 19 August 2021.
👉 Dawn Holliday, Landlord, sentenced and fined - A landlord was given a suspended sentence of 26 weeks and electronically tagged for 4 months after putting the lives of her tenants at risk by not maintaining gas appliances at a property in Kent. The HSE was awarded £750 in costs. Despite the Improvement Notice served on the landlord to undertake gas safety checks, she ignored this and further requests from HSE. She also claimed the tenants had moved out and had not been paying rent, and the investigation found this claim to be completely untrue.
Preventing Accidents with H&S Best Practices
To avoid the potential consequences of an HSE investigation, it's essential to implement robust health and safety best practices. Here are some key strategies to consider:
🟢 Risk Assessment: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards and assess the likelihood and severity of accidents.
🟢 Safe Systems of Work: Develop and implement safe systems of work to prevent accidents and injuries.
🟢 Training and Education: Ensure that all employees receive adequate training and education on health and safety matters.
🟢 Emergency Preparedness: Develop and test emergency plans to respond effectively to accidents and incidents.
🟢 Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of the workplace to identify and address potential hazards.
🟢 Consultation with Employees: Consult with employees on health and safety matters to ensure their concerns are addressed.
Being investigated by the HSE can have a devastating impact on a business. By implementing robust health and safety best practices, however, companies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and minimise the potential consequences of an investigation. If you're looking for expert guidance on health and safety, consider partnering with a reputable consultancy firm like What No Safety. We’ll ensure your workplace health and safety policies and procedures are solid, and if an accident should happen, we’ll be there to help you navigate the process.