Fine for Exposing Employees to Risks of Developing Severe Dermatitis
Published Date: 25th September 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding companies of the importance of managing dermatitis risks, by effective risk assessment and taking adequate precautions to ensure that employees are not exposed to hazardous substances at work. You must carry out adequate CoSHH assessment.The call comes after the sentencing of Prysmian Cables and Systems Limited, who were fined £27,500 and ordered to pay costs of £10,700.
Prysmian Cables and Systems Ltd pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (as amended) 2002, Regulation 6(1)(a) (CoSHH) requiring risk assessment, Regulation 7(1) as qualified by Regulation 7(3) requiring effective control measures and Regulation 11(1), requiring suitable health surveillance. The incidents concerned took place between 3 January 2006 and 17 March 2008.
The investigation found that managers failed to control the risks of exposing employees to hazardous substances, including a known skin irritant, at the company’s premises in Eastleigh. This resulted in one employee suffering from severe dermatitis, which had a huge impact on his life. He was required to take retirement on medical grounds and his future employment prospects are extremely limited. Yet this could have been avoided if relatively simple and low cost control measures had been put into place. HSE CoSHH Specialist Inspector in Occupational Health, Anne Bartlett, said:
“This case illustrates the need for employers to take dermatitis risks as seriously as any other risks to health and safety in the workplace. Dermatitis is not just a ‘bit of a rash’ which can be ignored but a painful, debilitating and as this case proves, a life changing condition which can be easily avoided.”
This article was provided by Barbour Professional Services.
Further information is available within the HSE publication, L5: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Fifth Edition) Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, which can be found on Barbour.