Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press Releases
HSE Press Release: E053:04 - 20 April 2004
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today urged companies and other organisations to ignore information they receive from three firms purporting to regulate health and safety legislation.
HSE has received hundreds of complaints from companies across the country that have been sent requests for payment in return for compliance with health and safety law.
The three firms, all based in north-west England, have written to companies all over Great Britain asking for between £125 and £249 to ensure they comply with health and safety law.
A Liverpool firm calling itself the Health and Safety Enforcement Agency (HSEA) demands £125 for a health and safety compliance pack. The Manchester-based Health and Safety Compliance Agency (HSCA) says a health and safety compliance register will become law on 1 May and that all businesses should apply for registration, for a fee of £129.25. A third company, the Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division (HSRED), which gives a Rochdale address, tells recipients to pay up to £249 for health and safety registration.
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.
Justin McCracken, HSE's Deputy Directory General, said:
"None of these companies is connected to HSE. Organisations
should be very wary of any approach from these firms, or any
company 'offering' similar services. All three 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," added Mr McCracken.
"HSE's legitimate Health and Safety Starter Pack is available to any business for £30. Not only does the pack cost a lot less than the information provided by these companies, but it is also the real thing."
HSE is liaising with trading standards offices and the police, who are investigating all three companies.
Copies of The Health and Safety Starter Pack: Health and Safety Advice and Guidance for New and Small Businesses are available from HSE Books, priced £30. ISBN 0 7176 2738. www.hsebooks.com
1. More information on The Health and Safety Starter Pack: Health and Safety Advice and Guidance for New and Small Businesses can be found on HSE's website:www.hse.gov.uk/business/pack.htm
The pack contains most of the basic health and safety advice you need to help your business comply with the law and protect its employees. It also includes copies of the HSE Accident Book and the Health and Safety Law Poster, which must be displayed in your business premises by law.
2. Anyone receiving literature from any of these firms should report it to HSE's Infoline on 0845 345 0055, or their local HSE office.
3. HSE and local authorities (LAs) are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety in Great Britain under the general direction of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). HSE and LAs work in partnership to secure HSC's objectives.
Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact, or write to: HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
Journalists only: Peter O'Connor
020 7717 6219