Company fined after agency work burned with chemicals

A manufacturer of household chemicals has been fined £50,000 after an agency worker suffered extensive burns. The company pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The worker was working in a team decanting liquid drain un-blocker from a large container at shoulder height into smaller containers to be sold. The agency worker opened a valve on an adjacent container fitted with a decanting hose by mistake, and the liquid spilled out, burning her face, eye, neck and arm.

An investigation by the HSE found that the company did not have an adequate system of work, as it exposed employees to risks in the event of leaks or losses of containment. It also found that, while some PPE was provided, there was little supervision to ensure the use of PPE, and the first aid arrangements did not take account for any chemical exposure.