31 Dec 2012
Exposing employees to hazardous chemicals used for flavouring and smell purposes in food production, has led to a chemical manufacturing company in Daventry being fined.
A variety of toxic substances, mainly in liquid form, used at Endeavour Speciality Chemicals Ltd, were classed as hazardous to health, and one female member of staff, a 46-year old dispatch officer, was diagnosed with occupational asthma and rhinitis after handling them.
She is now no longer able to work with chemicals and the company has had to find her another suitable job within its’ organisation.
Necessary ventilation and the appropriate organisation of the workplace had not been provided, Northampton Magistrates’ Court was told, with employees having to manually pour substances into containers ready for dispatch to customers.
The list of failings by the company, discovered following the Health and Safety Executive investigation, included failing to assess the risk of ill health from packing operations involving chemicals, and failing to implement the necessary control measures required to prevent or adequately control employees’ exposure.
In court, a fine totalling £15,000 and costs of £5,000 were ordered against Endeavour Speciality Chemicals Ltd, of Low March Industrial Estate, Daventry, Northamptonshire, after it admitted to breaching Regulations 6(1) and 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
Copyright Press Association 2012