Workers exposed to hazardous substances

Rolls Royce has been fined £120,000 for compromising the health and safety of its workers after five employees were exposed to hazardous materials, leaving them with skin rashes and chest problems.

Derby crown court imposed the fine and ordered the firm to pay costs of £12,122.53 for contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure, as far as was reasonably practical, that its staff were not exposed to hazardous substances.

A failure to assess the risks the employees were likely to face led to safe working practices not being implemented and Noelle Walker, the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) inspector for Derbyshire, said other firms should ensure they have taken reasonable steps to reduce the risk of harm.

"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," she stated.

The HSE recently warned companies to protect workers from hazardous substances after Wragby-based E.H Thomas (beehives) was fined £12,500 after one employee was injured using a cutting machine while colleagues were exposed to potentially harmful western red cedar wood dust.