First it was the Data Protection Registration scam and now it’s the Health and Safety Compliance scam. Apparently there are a number of organisations – all purporting to be based in the north west of England – who are writing to companies around the country and demanding payment for compliance with health and safety law.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports having received hundreds of complaints about the organisations, who are offering nothing that cannot be obtained for free or very cheaply direct from the HSE itself. With our head office being based in the North West, companies have also been enquiring of us what it is all about.
At present, allegations are being made against three companies with the official sounding names of:
- Health and Safety Enforcement Agency (HSEA)
- Health and Safety Compliance Agency (HSCA)
- Health and Safety Registration Enforcement Division (HSRED)
They are writing on official looking headed notepaper to demand payments of up to £250 for health and safety registration.
Neither the HSE nor any reputable health and safety firm writes indiscriminately to organisations demanding payment for services that have not yet been delivered so you should ignore any such demands you receive, from these three companies or from any copycat organisations who think this is a viable get-rich-quick scheme.
The HSE, in conjunction with the Police and Local Trading Standards Officers, have already launched an investigation into these organisations, but there will be plenty of demands already in the post so, if you receive one there is no need to panic.
That is not to suggest, of course, that you can afford just to ignore health and safety. However, if you have genuine concerns about complying with health and safety legislation, the best course of action is to make direct contact with a well-established health and safety organisation and seek their advice.
See Concepts for a broader perspective on Managing Health & Safety
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