Courts hand out £72.6m in health and safety fines

Safety fines for health and safety breaches have soared to £72.6m.

Annual statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show total penalties have almost doubled since new sentencing guidelines were introduced three years ago.

The £72.6m in fines during 2017/18 followed 493 successful prosecutions across all industries – with an average fine of £147,000.

The figures also show there were 144 fatal injuries at work – with construction accounting for the highest number at 38.

Martin Temple, HSE Chair, said of the findings: “These figures should serve as a reminder to us of the importance to manage risk and undertake good health and safety practice in the work place.

“Great Britain’s health and safety record is something we should all be proud of, but there is still much to be done to ensure that every worker goes home at the end of their working day safe and healthy.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/11/01/courts-hand-out-72-6m-in-health-and-safety-fines/

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