HSE increases Fee for Intervention (FFI): What small businesses need to know

From 1 April 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has increased several of its cost recovery rates, including the Fee for Intervention (FFI). The FFI rate has risen from £183 to £188 per hour.

At first glance, a £5 increase might not seem significant. But when it comes to HSE inspections and investigations, those hourly rates can stack up quickly, especially for small businesses.

The change is less about the increase itself, and more about what it reinforces: getting health and safety right first time is far more cost-effective than fixing issues later.

What is HSE Fee for Intervention (FFI)?

FFI is a cost recovery scheme used by the HSE.

It applies when an HSE inspector identifies a material breach of health and safety law.

If that happens, your business is charged for the time the inspector spends identifying, investigating, and ensuring the issue is put right.

The new rate is now £188 per hour, and the chargeable time includes everything from site visits to report writing and follow-up work.

How much can FFI cost?

Even relatively small issues can become expensive:

• 5 hours = £940
• 10 hours = £1,880
• 20 hours = £3,760

It’s easy to see how quickly costs can escalate.

Other HSE cost increases in 2026

FFI isn’t the only rate that’s increased. Other HSE charging regimes have also gone up, including:

• COMAH: £212 → £218
• Offshore safety: £322 → £332
• Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996: £173 → £178
• Pipelines (oil, gas, chemicals): £173 → £178
• Onshore oil, gas & geothermal: £204 → £210
• Wind & marine energy: £246 → £253
• Explosives regulation: £145 → £149
• Ionising radiation consents: £227 → £234
• Carriage of dangerous goods: £75 → £77

Not all of these will apply to every business, but they highlight a clear trend: regulatory time is becoming more expensive.

What this means for small businesses

For small businesses, this isn’t just a policy update, it’s a practical consideration.

• Costs are rising
  Any HSE interaction that results in chargeable time will now be more expensive.
• Prevention matters more than ever
  Avoiding a material breach means avoiding FFI charges altogether. That’s where the real saving is.
• Planning ahead is key
  Even if you’ve never had an issue during an inspection, it’s sensible to factor potential regulatory costs into your planning.

A real-world example of FFI costs

A small construction company received a routine HSE inspection. There hadn’t been an accident, but the inspector identified a material breach due to outdated risk assessments and inconsistent use of RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements) on site.

What followed wasn’t a major investigation, just a series of fairly standard actions:

• Reviewing documentation
• Speaking with site supervisors
• Issuing advice and follow-up actions
• Writing up findings

The total time came to just under 12 hours.

At the new rate, that resulted in an FFI invoice of over £2,200.

Nothing catastrophic had happened, but the cost still landed. And importantly, it was entirely avoidable.

Common causes of FFI charges

One of the biggest misconceptions about FFI is that it only applies to major incidents.

In reality, it can be triggered by fairly common issues, such as:

• Outdated or generic risk assessments
• Poorly communicated safe systems of work
• Gaps in training records
• Inconsistent supervision on site

These are all things that can creep in over time, especially in busy, growing businesses.

How to avoid HSE FFI charges

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s being consistently organised, up to date, and able to evidence what you’re doing.

A few practical actions go a long way:

• Review your risk assessments so they reflect what actually happens day to day.
• Make sure your RAMS are not just written, but used and understood.
• Support supervisors so they can confidently enforce standards.
• Close out audit actions and near misses, don’t let them drift.
• Keep training records accurate and easy to access.
• Investigate incidents properly and capture what you’ve learned.
• Keep documentation clear, current, and inspection-ready.

If an HSE inspector visits, being able to show this clearly can make all the difference.

FAQs about HSE Fee for Intervention

What counts as a material breach?
A material breach is something that breaks health and safety law and is serious enough that it requires action from the inspector. This could range from missing or inadequate risk assessments to unsafe working practices on site.

Can you challenge an FFI invoice?
Yes. Businesses can query or dispute an invoice if they believe it has been applied incorrectly. There is a formal disputes process, but it’s generally more effective to focus on prevention rather than relying on appeals.

When do you get charged?
You’re only charged when a material breach is identified. If an inspection finds everything in order, there is no FFI fee.

How quickly do invoices arrive?
Invoices are typically issued after the HSE has completed its work on the breach. Timing can vary depending on the complexity of the case.

Does FFI apply to all businesses?
FFI can apply to any business inspected by the HSE where a material breach is found. However, some of the other charging regimes mentioned apply only to specific, higher-risk industries.

The bottom line

This isn’t a change in how HSE enforces the law, it’s a reminder that their time has a cost, and that cost is rising.

For small businesses, the takeaway is simple:
Good health and safety isn’t just about compliance, it’s about avoiding disruption, stress, and unexpected expenses.

How SafeWorkforce can help

Most businesses don’t struggle because they don’t care about safety, they struggle because they don’t have the time or tools to stay on top of it all.

That’s where SafeWorkforce fits in:

• Expert support when you need a second opinion
• Help making sure your documentation is compliant and complete
• An easy-to-use RAMS builder to keep systems of work practical
• A training tracker so nothing slips through the cracks
• Accident and incident support, plus simple reporting tools

Don’t wait for an FFI invoice to find the gaps

With HSE costs rising, now is the right time to make sure your business is inspection ready.

A quick review of your risk assessments, RAMS, health and safety training records, and incident processes today could help you avoid unnecessary costs tomorrow.

If you would like peace of mind that your documentation and systems are up to scratch, speak to the SafeWorkforce team today. We’re here to help you stay compliant, protect your people, and avoid avoidable FFI charges.