Company Pays Price for Negligence of Health and Safety of its Workers
In a recent incident, an employee who had been working at the factory of Prysmian Cables and Systems Limited in Eastleigh between January 3, 2006 and March 17, 2008 got affected by dermatitis due to constant exposure to certain chemicals, which were known to contain a skin irritant. The negligence of the supervisor led to this condition of the worker, who not only had to retire from his job but also had to lose his prospects of working in future.
Southampton Crown Court fined Prysmian Cables £27,500 and imposed costs of £10,700 when the company admitted to its guilt under three charges of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
HSE Specialist Inspector in Occupational Health, Anne Bartlett, stated that this case demonstrates the requirement of employers to take dermatitis as a cause of concern just like any other health risk at work. She said that dermatitis is not a mere rash and can cause pain, but can be incapacitating as was seen in the present case.
Bartlett added that employers must take stock of the hazards and make sure that adequate preventive measures are in place. These can include bodily protection, secure processes at work, clothing that would prevent exposure, training from time to time, and adequate health examination.
Health and Safety training can be provided by reputable companies, such as Workplace Law; their range of accredited courses by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations. This course is for managers and supervisors in any sector and any organisation. It’s designed to give managers all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams.
According to Anne Bartlett, this case can serve as a reminder to all employers about the risks of dermatitis and the significance of keeping a check on it by providing thorough hazard identification and appropriate prevention, so that workers do not come into contact with risky materials in the first place.
