What Is Fee for Intervention (FFI)?
Since October 2012, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has operated a cost-recovery scheme known as Fee for Intervention (FFI). If an HSE inspector identifies a 'material breach' of health and safety law during a visit or investigation, the business is charged for the time the HSE spends on that intervention — including the inspection itself, follow-up correspondence, and any further enforcement action.
What Counts as a Material Breach?
A material breach is defined by the HSE as a contravention of health and safety law that's serious enough for an inspector to issue formal advice in writing, an improvement or prohibition notice, or to take other enforcement action. It doesn't need to result in an accident — the breach itself is enough to trigger the fee, regardless of whether anyone was harmed.
How FFI Adds Up
FFI is charged at an hourly rate, which the HSE reviews periodically — so it's worth checking the current rate on the HSE's website if you need an up-to-date figure. The total cost depends on how much time the inspector spends on the case, which can include:
- The initial inspection or investigation
- Reviewing documents and evidence
- Writing up findings and any formal notices
- Follow-up visits to check that issues have been resolved
Crucially, FFI is charged on top of — not instead of — any fines, court costs or compensation that may follow from the same breach.
How to Reduce the Risk of FFI
The best way to avoid FFI is straightforward: don't give an inspector grounds to identify a material breach in the first place. That means having genuinely up-to-date risk assessments, current training records, and control measures that are actually being followed — not just written down. NEBOSH courses give managers and supervisors the skills to apply safe methods of work, perform proper risk assessments, create fire procedures, control hazards, and identify the kinds of issues that lead to ill health — the exact areas an inspector is likely to look at.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FFI apply even if no one was hurt?
Yes — FFI is triggered by a material breach of health and safety law, regardless of whether the breach has actually resulted in injury or ill health.
Can FFI charges be disputed?
Yes — there's a formal process for querying or disputing an FFI invoice if a business believes the breach wasn't material or the charge is incorrect. Details are available from the HSE.
How can training help avoid FFI?
Training that results in genuinely embedded risk assessment, safe systems of work and hazard control reduces the likelihood that an inspector will find a material breach during a visit — avoiding both the FFI charge and any further enforcement action.