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Can you insure against health and safety fines? - under the new sentencing guidlines
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JL  
#1 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:06:00(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JL

Not knowing an awful lot about how insurance (all risks & Public liability Etc.) I was wondering if these would cover you for potential fines that might be imposed under the new sentencing guidelines, or are all fines imposed by the courts for health and safety breaches under the new guidelines uninsurable.

Clearly making sure you never get to this stage is the best insurance but in worse case senario.


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jodieclark1510  
#2 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:41:50(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jodieclark1510

As far as I am aware no, fines and penalties are an uninsurable cost:

http://www.safety-smart.co.uk/news/employer-liabilitypublic-liability-insurance-are-you-sufficiently-covered/

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stonecold  
#3 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:42:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stonecold
Originally Posted by: James Liepa Go to Quoted Post

Not knowing an awful lot about how insurance (all risks & Public liability Etc.) I was wondering if these would cover you for potential fines that might be imposed under the new sentencing guidelines, or are all fines imposed by the courts for health and safety breaches under the new guidelines uninsurable.

Clearly making sure you never get to this stage is the best insurance but in worse case senario.

You can't be indemnified against fines from regulatory authorities, or fines imposed if you are found guilty of a criminal offence.



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biker1  
#4 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:45:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
biker1

I agree, insurance will cover civil claims but not legal fines. Given the new sentencing guidelines and the huge increase in fines, an insurance company would have to be crazy to even contemplate covering these.

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douglas.dick  
#5 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:45:32(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
douglas.dick

The day that you can get insured, we are all out of a job! So thats a no from me:)

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Elfin Davy 09  
#6 Posted : 01 June 2017 08:48:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Elfin Davy 09

No, you can't insure against fines for "criminal" activities (which is where you are if taken to court for breaches of Health and Safety Law).  Insurance (such as ELI) only covers you for civil claims.  Therefore, if someone has an accident at work that leads to an HSE visit and prosecution, insurance would cover the compensation (civil) claim made by the injured person, but any fines suffered when prosecuted by the HSE (criminal) would come out of the company's bank/profits I'm afraid.

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thanks 1 user thanked Elfin Davy 09 for this useful post.
JL on 01/06/2017(UTC)
David Bannister  
#7 Posted : 01 June 2017 09:02:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
David Bannister

It is possible to buy "Legal Expenses" insurance which may go towards legal fees but insurers will not fund hopeless defence cases.

Criminal fines are not insurable and "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards only exist in Monopoly.
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thanks 1 user thanked David Bannister for this useful post.
RayRapp on 01/06/2017(UTC)
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