Health and safety offences and penalties 2003/2004 - Key statistics

Figure 1 enforcement action taken by HSE, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04 provisional
Figure 2 average levels of fines per case, Great Britain – 2000/01 – 2003/04 provisional
Figure 3 average levels of fines per case in England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain 2002/03 – 2003/04 provisional
Figure 4 average fine per offence prosecuted, Great Britain, by sector 2002/03 – 2003/04 provisional
Figure 5 Total number of cases prosecuted by HSE’s field operations directorate, and numbers of duty holders convicted, GB 2000/01-2003/4 provisional
Figure 6 Total offences prosecuted and those leading to conviction, GB, 2000/01- 2003/04 provisional
Figure 7 Number of improvement notices Issued by HSE, by sector 2003/04 provisional
Figure 7.1 Comparison of number of improvement notices by HSE, by sector 2003/04 provisional
Figure 8 Number of prohibition notices issued by HSE, by sector 2002/03-200304 provisional
Figure 8.1 Comparison of number of prohibition notices issued by HSE by sector, 2002/03 provisional
Glossary of terms used within the statistics section
Further Figures for 2003/2004

Figure 1 - Enforcement Action taken HSE, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Tables

Figure 1 shows that the number of cases prosecuted increased by 8% in Great Britain last year, though it is about the same as in recent years.
In 2002/03there was a particularly high number of notices issued in Great Britain. There was a marked increase in the number of improvement notices issued in construction and agriculture. This was because HSE inspectors paid extra attention to these priority areas. This has continued during 03/04. Last year the total number of notices issued has returned to a figure similar to that of 2000/01 and 2001/02. The fall is the result of fewer notices being issued in the manufacturing and services sector.

Figure 2 - Average fine per case prosecuted by HSE's Field Operations Directorate, Great Britain - 2000/01 - 2003/04 provisional

p = provisional Full Data Tables

The average fine per case increased by 58% last year in Great Britain.
If fines of £100,000 or more are excluded, the average fine in 2002/03 was £8,054 and £9,415 in 2003/04p.

Figure 3 - Average Level of Fine per Case in England, Scotland, Wales, and Great Britain 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Table

Last year, across Great Britain, the average fine has increased.

Figure 4 - Average Fine for Offences Prosecuted, Great Britain, by Sector 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Tables

There has been an increase in the average fine across all sectors, especially in the extractive industries, where there has been a 139% increase.

Figure 5 - Total Number Of Cases Prosecuted By HSE’s Field Operations Directorate, and Number of Duty Holders Convicted, Great Britain, 2000/01 - 03/04p

p = provisional Full data table

Figure 5 shows that the total number of cases prosecuted by Field Operations Directorate (FOD) in Great Britain has increased by 6%, and the number of cases convicted has increased by 2% over the last 12 months.
The proportion of cases that led to a conviction (for one or more offences prosecuted) in 2003/04p is 90%, slightly lower than last year’s figure of 93%.
Most HSE prosecutions are by FOD, 911 out of a total of 982.
The above comparison is only available for FOD, and not for HSE as a whole.

Figure 6 - Total Offences Prosecuted and those Leading to a Conviction, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data tables

The total number of offences prosecuted in Great Britain has risen by 6% over the last year. The number of these offences leading to a conviction has risen by 3%.
The proportion of offences prosecuted leading to a conviction is 74%.

Figure 7 - Number of Improvement Notices Issued by HSE in Great Britain, by Sector 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data table

The total number of improvement notices issued in 2003/2004p was 6,776 as compared to 8,140 in 2002/2003.
The manufacturing sector continues to receive the most improvement notices, with the extractive industries receiving the least.
The largest percentage changes over the last 12 months can be seen in the manufacturing sector, where the number of improvement notices decreased by 27%, and in the services sector with a 19% decrease.
There is a slight rise of 3% in the number of improvement notices issued to the construction sector.

Figure 7.1 - Number of Improvement Notices Issued by HSE, by Sector 2003/04p

figure 7.1

p = provisional

Figure 8 - Number of Prohibition Notices issued by HSE by Sector, 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data tables

The total number of prohibition notices issued in 2003/04p is 4,519 compared to 5,184 in 2002/03.
The construction still receives the largest amount of prohibition notices.
The largest percentage change in the number of prohibition notices issued in the last 12 months is in the manufacturing sector, showing a 30% decrease.

Figure 8.1 - Number of Prohibition Notices Issued in HSE by Sector, 2003/04p

figure 8.1

P = provisional

Glossary of terms

Provisional: These figures may change as final details emerge.

HSWA: The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 .

Complaint: In Scotland a case against one employer, individual or other duty holder. This may involve more than one offence prosecuted.

Case: A case against one employer, individual or other duty holder may involve more than one offence prosecuted. Offence prosecuted: Each offence prosecuted represents a separate ‘charge’ (or one ‘information laid’ in England and Wales or one ‘charge preferred’ in Scotland).

Breach: An alleged offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related provisions.

Duty Holder: A person with a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Further Figures for 2003/2004

The average fine per offence prosecuted in the higher courts in Great Britain is £33,036. This is a 79% increase on last year’s average of £18,427.
The average fine per offence prosecuted in the lower courts in Great Britain is £4,036. This is a 7% increase on last year’s average of £3,777.
The average in cases following a death is £43,113, this is a 27% increase on last year’s average of £31,262.
The average fine for offences prosecuted under sections 2,3,4 and 6 (the general duties) Of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act is £11,671. This is a 17% increase on last year’s average of £9,972.· The average fine for a breach of the regulations was £3447.
25 employees were prosecuted last year, of whom 19 were convicted. The average fine was £842

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