Hospital fined GBP 18,500 for health and safety breach
August 19, 2008
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is being fined £18,500 plus £3,500 in costs for exposing a cleaner to dangerous chemicals in breach of health and safety regulations.
During an inspection it was discovered the employee had been in proximity to glutaraldehyde for a number of years.
Contact occurred each time she cleaned the hospital's x-ray film processor.
The chemical can cause skin and respiratory problems and no safety protection was provided.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Jo Anderson says the Trust has put a worker at risk by failing to put "appropriate controls in place".
She says: "All employers must have systems in place to ensure that work with hazardous substances is identified. This should include non-routine work, such as cleaning, maintenance and out-of-hours work."
The £18,500 fine was awarded under a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulation 5 (1) of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999.
Correct health and safety precautions should have involved providing the cleaner with a solvent mask, goggles, a waterproof apron and double gloves, according to Irishhealth.com.
During an inspection it was discovered the employee had been in proximity to glutaraldehyde for a number of years.
Contact occurred each time she cleaned the hospital's x-ray film processor.
The chemical can cause skin and respiratory problems and no safety protection was provided.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Jo Anderson says the Trust has put a worker at risk by failing to put "appropriate controls in place".
She says: "All employers must have systems in place to ensure that work with hazardous substances is identified. This should include non-routine work, such as cleaning, maintenance and out-of-hours work."
The £18,500 fine was awarded under a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulation 5 (1) of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999.
Correct health and safety precautions should have involved providing the cleaner with a solvent mask, goggles, a waterproof apron and double gloves, according to Irishhealth.com.
More COSHH news:
Plant fined GBP12000 after workers overcome by toxic fumes - June 26, 2009Merseyside companies urged not to ignore health and safety warnings - June 23, 2009
Fine issued for chemical release - April 6, 2009
Silicosis awareness 'to be raised at event' - March 26, 2009
Scotland govt reveals health and safety problem - January 29, 2009
