Window manufacturer fined for neglecting workers' welfare

Date:

14 January 2011

Release No:

COI/LDN/1401

A London window manufacturer was prosecuted for ignoring two Improvement Notices requiring them to bring employee welfare facilities up to a clean and hygienic standard.

At the City of London Magistrates' Court today, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted TLC Glazing Ltd, of Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham, Morden.

The court heard that on 20 May 2010, at a routine inspection of the factory, HSE found the toilets in a poor state of repair. They were very dirty, with no supply of hot water, no soap for hand-washing and no means of hand-drying.

The inspection also found that the area where employees were supposed to take rest breaks and eat lunch was not properly equipped, and was covered in dust and debris from the adjacent workshop.

The HSE inspector served two Improvement Notices on the company, giving them a month to bring the employees' welfare facilities up to to a decent standard.

When the inspector returned a month later on 18 June, TLC Glazing Ltd had taken no action to comply with the notices, and the toilets facilities and rest area were in the same poor state.

HSE Inspector Clare Hawkes, said:

"The law requires employers to provide a minimum basic standard of clean and hygienic welfare facilities for workers. There's no excuse for not providing them.

"Failure to provide decent facilities or to comply with enforcement notices are serious matters. TLC Glazing showed complete disregard for the welfare of its employees and for the law."

TLC Glazing Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined fined £5,000 today and ordered to pay £1,968 costs.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a prohibition notice."

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