Employers warned over liquids
June 16, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies to protect their employees from the dangers of flammable liquids after a man suffered serious burns to his hands and legs following a fire in the workplace.
Naran Hirani, a member of staff at Parmeko, was left with damage to his arms and legs after a fire broke out while he was using acetone to clean machinery.
Leicester magistrates' court fined the business £10,000 and ordered it to pay £1,910 in costs after it pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
An investigation by the HSE found no attention was paid by the firm to fire safety and there was a solder pot operating at 400 degrees Celsius positioned at arm's length from the liquid.
"This incident could have been avoided if Parmenko had put a safe system of working in place to help protect employees when handling this sort of highly flammable and toxic substance and made employees aware of the dangers associated with acetone," HSE inspector Munera Sidat said.
Acetone is a colourless liquid and is found in household products such as nail polish remover and paint stripper.
Naran Hirani, a member of staff at Parmeko, was left with damage to his arms and legs after a fire broke out while he was using acetone to clean machinery.
Leicester magistrates' court fined the business £10,000 and ordered it to pay £1,910 in costs after it pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
An investigation by the HSE found no attention was paid by the firm to fire safety and there was a solder pot operating at 400 degrees Celsius positioned at arm's length from the liquid.
"This incident could have been avoided if Parmenko had put a safe system of working in place to help protect employees when handling this sort of highly flammable and toxic substance and made employees aware of the dangers associated with acetone," HSE inspector Munera Sidat said.
Acetone is a colourless liquid and is found in household products such as nail polish remover and paint stripper.
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