Important Update for Duty Holders
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed an increase to its Fee for Intervention (FFI) hourly rate, which came into effect from 1st April 2026.
What Is Changing?
- The FFI hourly rate has increased from £183 to £188.
- This rate applies where the HSE identifies a material breach of health and safety law and recovers its costs for regulatory activity linked to that breach.
- The increase reflects a review of HSE’s full cost recovery charges and has been approved by Government.
What Does FFI Cover?
FFI charges can include:
- Time spent by HSE inspectors identifying and investigating a material breach.
- Follow‑up work, correspondence and enforcement activity associated with the breach.
Charges are calculated based on the time the HSE spends on these activities, multiplied by the hourly rate.
What Has Not Changed?
- FFI only applies where a material breach is found.
- Compliant organisations will not incur FFI charges.
- The principles of how and when FFI is applied remain the same.
What This Means For Your Business:
While the increase is modest, it reinforces the importance of:
- Proactively managing health and safety risks.
- Ensuring legal compliance is maintained at all times.
- Addressing issues quickly to reduce the risk of enforcement action and associated costs.
Rate Changes From 1st April 2026:
- Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015 (including Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 at COMAH sites) changed from £212 to £218.
- Offshore (including Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018 at Offshore sites) changed from £322 to £332.
- Fee For Intervention (FFI) changed from £183 to £188.
- Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 changed from £173 to £178.
- Oil, gas and chemical pipeline systems changed from £173 to £178.
- Onshore oil, gas and geothermal well and borehole operations changed from £204 to £210.
- Wind and marine energy (renewables) changed from £246 to £253.
- Explosives changed from £145 to £149.
- Ionising radiation consents changed from £227 to £234.
- Carriage of dangerous goods under regulation 25 (a) – (c) changed from £75 to £77.
How We Can Help:
As your Health and Safety Consultants, we can support you by:
- Reviewing your current arrangements for legal compliance.
- Helping you identify and close any gaps before an inspection.
- Supporting you in the event of HSE engagement or enforcement activity.