In February 2016 tougher penalties for safety and corporate manslaughter offences were introduced resulting in a hefty 83% increase in fines being paid out.

Under the new ruling, the scale of fines varies dependant on the revenue of the business but can exceed £20m for the most severe cases. The highest fine served in the first year was handed out to Balfour Beatty for £2.6m after a trench at a wind farm collapsed.

In fact, in the first year, construction firm fines represented 21% of the total collected by the Health and Safety Executive. Across all industries, the amount collected rose from £35.5m to £61.6m.

Health and Safety is a top priority and breaches can now pose a serious threat to a company’s bottom line.

If you want to find out more on health and safety to ensure you protect your employees and your business, head to
www.hse.gov.uk under the guidance section.