Firm fined after chemical exposure

A utilities company has been fined £4,000 after a worker suffered sore skin from over-exposure to a hazardous chemical.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and prosecuted Laing O’Rourke Utilities Ltd after Peter Johnson, from Exeter, put in a complaint once his skin became sore.

Between July and August 2007, the 48-year-old agency worker had been exposed to the chemical isocyanate, which can cause occupational asthma, conjunctivitis, dermatitis, bronchitis and rhinitis.

The over-exposure occurred when Mr Johnson was repainting gas pipeline joints in Devon. He was using an open-cabbed vehicle that had a sprayer attached, which was spraying paint that had isocyanate in it.

Because the cab was open, on a number of occasions Mr Johnson was exposed to the sprayed paint.

The company was found to have failed to protect Mr Johnson, by ensuring exposure to isocyanate was prevented or adequately controlled. It also failed to provide him with proper protective equipment, and so he was likely to have been exposed to up to 10 times the workplace exposure limit for isocyanate.

Laing O’Rourke Utilities Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and was ordered to pay a £4,000 fine and £15,062 in costs.