Global engineering company fined after employees exposed to chemical spillGlobal engineering company fined after employees exposed to chemical spillGlobal engineering company fined after employees exposed to chemical spillGlobal engineering company fined after employees exposed to chemical spill
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
      • Recent Prosecutions
      • News Articles
      • Legislation
      • Corporate Manslaughter
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
✕

Global engineering company fined after employees exposed to chemical spill

The fabrication division of Nasmyth Technologies Limited has been fined after four employees were exposed to hazardous substances that caused significant ill health and time off work as a result.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how, on the 9 October 2017, between 150 and 200 litres of a chemical preparation, that included hydrofluoric acid, spilled across a large area of the factory floor in Wimborne, Dorset. Four workers were involved in the clean-up that took several hours. They were provided with inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to undertake a clear up, for which they had no training. Some of them suffered ill health following the incident, which included an asthma attack, a severe headache, nausea, sore eyes and throat. One of the workers, whose symptoms persisted, was referred by his doctor to a specialist for treatment.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was significant non-compliance regarding management of substances hazardous to health. The company had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment and had not prepared for this emergency situation. One of the failings was that the RPE (face masks) provided did not have the correct type of filter for protecting against hydrofluoric acid gas. Additionally, the type of RPE provided to workers relied on a good seal against the face in order to protect workers and no face fit tests had been undertaken to ensure the masks fitted the workers’ faces.  Furthermore, workers were unshaven meaning their beards or stubble prevented an effective seal of the RPE to their faces.

Nasmyth Technologies Limited of Nasmyth House, Coventry Road, Exhall, Coventry pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work 1974 Act. They were fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,551.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Berenice Ray said: “This incident could have so easily been avoided had the company firstly undertaken a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and then implemented the necessary controls, including emergency arrangements for dealing with a chemical spill and the provision of instruction and supervision to ensure safe working practices are followed.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Source HSE Website 11/03/2021

Share

Related posts

20th June 2022

Former construction company directors sentenced for failing to prevent exposure to asbestos


Read more
20th June 2022

Construction company fined and director sentenced after workers exposed to asbestos


Read more
20th June 2022

Company fined after contractor injured in a fall from height


Read more

Get in touch

CQMS Limited
The Annexe, The Maltings, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6BH
Tel: 01476 566665
Email: enquiries@cqms-ltd.com

Connect with us on social media

CQMS Safety-Scheme is a UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012 for the provision of health and safety assessment services’
CQMS Safety-Scheme - UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012

Search our site

✕

External Links

H&S Executive Website
Incident Contact Centre
The British Safety Council
RoSPA

© 2017 - 2022 CQMS Limited | All rights reserved | Site built & hosted by GIGER MEDIA | Content managed by CQMS