UK safety fines rising

The latest report from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) shows that 84% of over 1,000 offences brought to court resulted in conviction and fines. The average level in the year to March 2002 increased by 39% to £12,194. This shows influence of the Court of Appeal ruling in 1998 that health and safety fines were too low, the increase coming almost entirely from the higher courts hearing more serious offences while those imposed by the lower courts remained static.