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Penalties for Health and Safety Offences as of Jan 1st 2001
Lower courts
For a failure to comply with an improvement or prohibition notice, or court remedy order. A fine of up to £20,000 or 6 months' imprisonment or both.
For breaches of Sections 2-6 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 A fine of up to £20,000
For other breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act not specified above or of relevant statutory provisions under the Act, a fine of up to £5,000.
Higher courts
For failure to comply with an improvement or prohibition notice or a court remedy order. 2 years imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.
For contravening licence requirements or provisions relating to explosives. 2 years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both.
For breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 or of relevant statutory provisions under the Act. Unlimited fines.
In addition it is worth noting the somewhat draconian powers afforded to Factory Inspectors and Environmental Health Officers which are as follows:
- To enter premises at any reasonable time
- To take a Constable with him/her if necessary
- To take with him/her another authorised person
- To examine, investigate and require premises to be left undisturbed
- To take samples subject to leaving a compatible sample
- To dismantle or test any dangerous article or substance
- To require information, facilities and assistance
- To require the production of any relevant books and documents
- To issue improvement or prohibition notices
- To initiate prosecutions
- To seize, destroy or render harmless any article or substance which is a source of imminent danger
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