Company Admits Safety Breaches In Work Accident

Workplace injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have once again called on employers to recognise the dangers of handling hazardous materials, after a firm was fined over an incident in which a worker was set on fire.

Swadlincote Diesel Fuel Injection Services in Derbyshire admitted safety breaches in relation to the incident in March 2009, when a 23-year-old apprentice mechanic was burning rubbish in an old drum.

In order to get the fire going, a second man poured waste fuel over it and caused an explosion. The mechanic suffered serious burns to his arms, face and neck as a result of the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the company did not have a safe system of work for handling, storing or using flammable substances.

Stephen Nye, a Partner at Irwin Mitchell who represents work accident victims injured in incidents involving exposure to hazardous materials, said: “Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their workers are given full and proper guidance on handling dangerous materials and this kind of incident demonstrates why we have repeatedly stated this.

“Businesses need to consider all aspects of using such materials, offering full information on how they should be stored and used as well as implementing checks to ensure this guidance is met.

“We see too many cases in which people have suffered serious illness and injury due to safety failings in the workplace. The same mistakes cannot be made in the future and we hope lessons are learned.”

Our accident at work claims team could help you claim compensation for a burn, laceration or scarring as a result of an accident at work. See our Burns, Scars & Lacerations At Work Claims page for more information.