Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Enforcement arrangements
The HSE and local authorities (county, district and uni-
tary councils) are the enforcing authorities for health 
and safety standards. Building Regulations are enforced 
by local authorities. Local fi re and rescue authorities 
enforce virtually all matters in relation to fi re safety in 
the UK.
The Environment Agency (Scottish Environmental 
Protection Agency) are responsible for both authorising 
and regulating emissions for industry as a whole and are 
also responsible for enforcing and providing guidance in 
relation to any form of environmental pollution.
Enforcers options
Regardless of the enforcement authority, e.g. HSE, local 
authority or fi re authority, enforcers have a variety of 
Figure 1.23
Law and fi re and safety management

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Introduction to Fire Safety Management
22
Offence 
Summary conviction 
On indictment
Breach of sections 2–6 HSWA 
£20 000 per breach 
£ Unlimited
Breach of sections 7–8 HSWA 
£5000 per breach 
£ Unlimited
Breach of regulations or Orders 
£5000 per breach 
£ Unlimited
Contravening section 20 items 
£5000 
Not indictable
Preventing a person from
£5000 
£ Unlimited
appearing before an inspector
Making a false statement 
£5000 
£ Unlimited
Contravening an improvement or
£20 000 and/or 6 months’
£ Unlimited and/or 2 years’
prohibition notice 
imprisonment 
imprisonment
Table 1.3
Table itemising maximum penalties under the HSWA
options dependent upon the seriousness of the breach. 
They may:
➤
Provide verbal advice and direction
➤
Provide the guidance and direction by way of a 
letter
➤
Serve an enforcement notice
➤
Prosecute the offending organisation or person 
should there be grounds for so doing.
Enforcement of the legislation
Dependent upon the enforcing authority there are a var-
iety of types of enforcement notices that can be served.