IIRSM launches FFI reimbursement scheme

The report acknowledges the professional approach adopted by HSE inspectors, which ensured that any challenges raised by the scheme during its first 18 months were minimised. It concludes that FFI "has proven effective in achieving the overarching policy aim of shifting the cost of health and safety regulation from the public purse to those businesses who break health and safety laws."

So, FFI is here to stay.

Timely then that IIRSM has partnered with an insurance company, backed by an "A'-rated Lloyds syndicate, to bring its Members an offering which will enable them to provide cover to their clients or employers to reimburse HSE Fee for Intervention (FFI) invoices - meaning that the support and advice they are already providing to clients will extend to include practical financial protection against this unforeseen expenditure.

Greg Brown, Deputy Chief Executive of IIRSM, believes this is a real step forward in IIRSM's commitment to be a supportive and practical membership body for its members. He says: "By including this FFI Reimbursement within their service proposition (it is not available as a stand-alone option) IIRSM Members will be able to provide even greater business support and enhance their profile within the business community and reinforcing professional standards in consultancy too. They are already working with clients to ensure they have effective risk management processes in place - this scheme will help to cement those relationships."

This insurance can only be purchased by IIRSM Members on behalf of their clients or employers and is not available on the open market. As the HSE's FFI scheme only has jurisdiction in the UK this applies to IIRSM Members who work with or for clients or businesses based in England, Wales or Scotland in businesses where the HSE is the enforcing authority. It is anticipated that Northern Ireland will be included in the near future.

More information about the Fee for Intervention (FFI) reimbursement scheme is provided on the IIRSM website at www.iirsm.org - including answers to important commercial, ethical and compliance questions. The scheme will be available from 1 October 2014 for all IIRSM Members (except Student, Affiliate and Retired categories).