Rolls Royce fined after workers exposed to hazardous substances
July 25, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies to have safe systems of work in place for employees in contact with hazardous substances.
The warning follows a case in which five Chesterfield agency workers, employed by Rolls Royce plc, suffered skin rashes and chest problems as a result of being exposed to hazardous materials.
Derby Crown Court heard that between 25 July and 7 October 2005, five agency workers worked on the decommissioning of the light alloy foundry on Osmaston Road which involved the removal of plant and materials and work with hot cutting equipment.
The HSE said that risks had not been properly identified and safe working practices were not put in place.
As a result, the men were exposed to hazardous substances including potassium fluorosilicate, fumes from hot metal cutting and oxides of sulphur, resulting in all the workers suffering from skin rashes and two of them suffering respiratory problems.
Rolls Royce plc of Derby was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay £12,122.53 in court costs at Derby Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching s.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 in failing to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, that non-employees were not exposed to hazardous substances.
Following the case, HSE Inspector for Derbyshire, Noelle Walker, said, "This incident could have been avoided if safe working practices had been put in place. Employers must ensure that decommissioning work is properly planned to take account of health and safety risks and that employees and agency workers are made fully aware of the risks associated with hazardous substances to prevent this sort of exposure, which has resulted in potentially long term ill health for these men."
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