A Lincolnshire agricultural machinery manufacturer has been fined after employees were put at risk of developing asthma through the spraying of a hazardous chemical.
Adequate controls were also not in place to protect workers from the effects of the chemical. The spray booths had not been maintained properly and were in poor condition. They were being used with the doors open and parts of the trailers were protruding into the workshop, meaning there was potential for significant exposure.
The hygiene facilities for staff were found in an extremely poor condition, and the emergency shower had been broken for years.
The failings came to light after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made an unannounced visit to the company, in June 2011.
The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay a further £13,420 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
HSE inspector Emma Madeley said: "The company failed to adequately control their employees' exposure to hazardous chemicals over an extended period of time, despite having repeatedly received advice from HSE and others on the requirements of the Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations.
"Breathing in isocyanate paint mist can cause asthma and paint sprayers are about 80 times more likely to get asthma than the average worker. Continued exposure may lead to permanent and severe asthma for which there is no cure. Almost certainly, the sufferer would have to give up their current job.”
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For information and advice about how to control isocyanate exposure in spray booths and spray rooms, visit the HSE pages here.
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A range of farm safety advice is available on NFUonline,here.