Car component manufacturer fined £1 million after workers suffer burns
Delphi Diesel Systems Limited, a commercial vehicle and car component manufacturer, was fined after two workers suffered significant burns.
On 11 July 2017, two company employees were burned by flammable chemical vapour. The chemical, used to clean the distillation tank part of a component washer, caused an explosion upon being ignited.
The employees suffered major burns. One of the workers was so severely injured, they were unable to work for over two months.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident at Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, and found that Delphi Diesel Systems Limited had not carried out any risk assessment for cleaning the distillation tank and there was no safe system of work.
There was also no planning for the use of the flammable chemical for cleaning.
The company has pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court fined the company £1,000,000 and issued £9,374 costs.
Paul Thompson, HSE principal inspector, commented on the company’s responsibility to provide safe systems of work and how the injuries could have been prevented had the company put them in place.
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