Tyneside firm fined after worker suffers toxic chemical burns

Date:

21 September 2012

Release No:

NE/069/12

A Tyneside firm has been fined after a worker was soaked with a concentrated, corrosive chemical and suffered serious burns.

Michael Reid, 66, of North Shields, was employed as an electroplater at DMI (UK) Ltd when the incident happened on 30 January 2011.

In a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how as part of an electroplating process, the company used a stripping tank filled with a sodium hydroxide solution, which from time to time had to be topped up with a concentrate of the chemical.

Mr Reid was topping up the tank, by pumping the highly-caustic concentrated sodium hydroxide from a drum into the tank, when the hose attached to the pump came off, soaking him in the corrosive chemical.

He suffered serious burns to his legs and body, was in hospital for two weeks and had to undergo several skin grafts. Mr Reid had worked for the company since 1963 and retired in July 2011, having never returned to work following the incident.

The HSE investigation found that the hose had been attached to the pump with tape, rather than a permanent fixing such as a jubilee clip.

The company had failed to carry out a risk assessment of the procedure and did not carry out checks to ensure the hose was correctly attached. It had also failed to provide sufficient training for Mr Reid and other employees in the handling of sodium hydroxide and the protective equipment provided did not offer sufficient protection.

DMI (UK) Ltd, of Gloucester Road, West Chirton Industrial Estate, North Shields, was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay £4,081 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in that it failed to provide a safe system of work for topping up the stripping tank.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Shuna Rank, said:

"Companies have a duty to ensure that hazards at work are managed so that they do not put employees and others at risk.

"This case illustrates what can go wrong and as a result of DMI (UK) Ltd's failings a long-serving employee suffered serious chemical burns.

"This incident should never have happened. Had the hose been properly attached to the pump it would not have occurred and basic systems to check and maintain equipment could have prevented it.

"In addition employees should have received training to ensure they were fully aware of the risks associated with handling concentrated sodium hydroxide."

Notes to editors

1. 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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