Last reviewed: 14 September 2026. Figures and rules can change – always confirm on the official links.

HSE enforcement notices now stay on the public register for 5 years, and failure to comply can result in an unlimited fine and up to 2 years in prison. In 2026, courts fined a director £10,800 and disqualified another for five years for failing to comply with enforcement notices—prosecutions that demonstrate the consequences of ignoring HSE intervention.

For employers in Wymondham, Norwich, Attleborough, Thetford and Dereham, understanding the current rules around improvement notices and prohibition notices is not academic. It is the difference between managing a compliance issue quietly and facing a public prosecution.

What Are HSE Enforcement Notices?

Improvement notices and prohibition notices are enforcement actions taken by the Health and Safety Executive when inspectors identify breaches of health and safety law. Prohibition Notices meet conditions in Sections 22 and 23 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; Improvement Notices meet conditions in Sections 21 and 23 of HSWA.

An improvement notice gives you time to fix a problem. A prohibition notice stops the activity immediately because the risk of serious personal injury is imminent. Both go on the public record, and both can lead to prosecution if you fail to comply.

The 2026 Prosecutions: Directors and Companies Fined

On 7 January 2026, Snaresbrook Crown Court fined a London construction company £7,200 for failing to comply with Prohibition Notices. The company’s director was fined £10,800. The case was reported by HSE and demonstrates that individual liability follows the company fine.

On 20 August 2026, Truro Crown Court fined a Cornwall sawmill company £20,000 for failing to comply with improvement notices. The director received a £5,000 fine. The court also granted HSE’s application to disqualify the director from acting as a company director for five years. That is not just a financial penalty—it is a career-ending consequence.

These cases are published on HSE’s convictions database, alongside the names, the fines and the courts. Your customers, insurers and competitors can all read them.

What Penalties Apply for Failing to Comply?

Failure to comply with any requirement imposed by a statutory notice is an offence. According to HSE guidance on enforcement offences and penalties, the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine in magistrates’ court or, at Crown Court, an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding two years.

Courts can fine an offender with often no limit on the amount of fine that can be awarded, and in certain circumstances may sentence an individual to up to 2 years in prison (as well as, or instead of, a fine). This applies to directors, managers and other individuals found personally responsible.

Publication and the Public Register

Enforcement notices are published on the HSE notices register 5 weeks after they are served and stay on the public register for 5 years. To account for the appeals process and quality assurance, 9 weeks elapse after a notice is issued before it is added. The register does not include notices which are under appeal or have been withdrawn.

That means every client, tender panel and insurance broker can see that you received an enforcement notice. The reputational cost often exceeds the financial one.

HSE’s First Prohibition Notice Against an Occupational Health Provider

In July 2026, HSE issued its first ever Prohibition Notice against an occupational health service provider, marking a significant milestone in HSE’s regulation of occupational health provision. This demonstrates that enforcement is expanding beyond traditional workplace hazards into the quality and competence of health surveillance and occupational health services themselves.

Employers who commission health surveillance or occupational health services now have an additional reason to verify the credentials and compliance of their provider.

What Employers in Norfolk Must Do Now

If you receive an improvement notice or prohibition notice, treat it as the start of a legal process, not an administrative inconvenience. The deadlines are strict, the consequences of non-compliance are severe, and the outcome is public.

• Respond immediately: appoint a competent person to lead the remedial work and document every action.
• Review the notice with your health and safety consultancy to ensure you understand what is required and by when.
• Consider whether an appeal is warranted, but remember that notices under appeal are not published—so long as the appeal is lodged within the statutory period.
• Update your risk assessments, safe systems of work and training records to address the root cause, not just the symptom.
• Use risk training to ensure your management team understands how to identify and control hazards before an inspector does.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an HSE enforcement notice stay on the public register?

Enforcement notices remain on the public register for 5 years. They are published 5 weeks after service, with 9 weeks elapsing before the notice is added to account for appeals and quality assurance.

Can I appeal an improvement notice or prohibition notice?

Yes. Notices under appeal are not published on the register. However, the appeal must be lodged within the statutory period, and it does not automatically suspend the notice unless the tribunal orders it.

What is the maximum penalty for failing to comply with an HSE notice?

At Crown Court, the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment not exceeding two years. At magistrates’ court, the maximum is an unlimited fine.

Can a director be disqualified for health and safety offences?

Yes. In August 2026, Truro Crown Court granted HSE’s application to disqualify a director from acting as a company director for five years following a conviction for failing to comply with improvement notices.

What This Means for Your Business

The 2026 prosecutions show that HSE enforcement is not slowing down, and courts are willing to disqualify directors and impose custodial sentences. The public register now ensures that enforcement action follows your company for five years, visible to every stakeholder.

The cost of getting it wrong—£20,000 fines, director disqualification, and imprisonment—far exceeds the cost of getting it right. A competent risk assessment, up-to-date training, and timely compliance advice are not optional extras. They are the minimum standard HSE expects, and the minimum protection your business needs.

Milne Safety has been providing health and safety consultancy, accredited training and health surveillance to Norfolk businesses since 1978. Our team includes CMIOSH-qualified consultants and we deliver training at our Wymondham centre or on your site across Norwich, Attleborough, Thetford and Dereham.

If you have received an enforcement notice, or want to ensure your management systems would withstand an HSE inspection, call us on 01953 607093 or visit our Health and Safety Blog for the latest enforcement updates and practical guidance.