Companies warned to bin mailshot from fake 'Health and Safety' agencies - January 2005

Companies and other organisations are urged to ignore information they receive from two firms purporting to regulate health and safety legislation.

HSE has received complaints from companies across the country that have been sent requests for payment in return for compliance with health and safety law.

One firm, based in West Yorkshire, calling itself the Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division (HSRED), have written to companies all over Great Britain asking for between £199 and £249 to ensure they comply with health and safety law, this follows on from a spate of similar letters, using the same company name that were sent out to companies in Spring 2004 which originally gave a Rochdale address but is now issuing letters giving a Bradford address. Another firm calling itself the Health and Safety Enforcement Agency (HSEA) demanded £125 for a health and safety compliance pack also back in Spring 2004 has also been issuing letters again recently.

Anyone receiving literature from any of these companies can ignore it; there is no legal need for anyone to buy literature or services from these companies.

None of these companies are connected to HSE. Organisations should be very wary of any approach from these firms, or any company 'offering' similar services. Both firms use wording suggesting they are official enforcement bodies, but they are not. HSE never writes indiscriminately to firms seeking advance payment for services which it has not provided. These companies are asking for significant sums of money, claiming they will send out information, much of which HSE provides free of charge. HSE's legitimate Health and Safety Starter Pack titled: Health and Safety Advice and Guidance for New and Small Businesses, ISBN 0 7176 2738, is available to any business from HSE Books (http://books.hse.gov.uk) priced £30.00. The pack contains most of the basic health and safety advice businesses need to help them comply with the law and protect their workers. It also includes copies of the HSE Accident Book and the Health and Safety Law Poster, which must be displayed in business premises by law. More information can be found on HSE's website as follows:

• Starterpack

HSE is liaising with trading standards offices and the police, who are investigating the companies. Anyone receiving literature from any of these firms should report it to HSE's Infoline on 0845 345 0055, or their local HSE office.