Expert Calls On Businesses To Take Care

An accident at work expert at Irwin Mitchell has called on firms to raise awareness of the importance of handling and managing hazardous waste in the correct manner.

David Urpeth, national head of workplace injuries at the firm, made the comment following the news that Jeyes UK and Deeside Metal Company had been fined over the death of a worker.

Mark Wright, who worked for Deeside Metal Company, suffered 90 per cent burns while crushing aerosol canisters received from Jeyes UK.

An investigation revealed that Jeyes UK had failed to label the canisters or separate them from less hazardous materials, despite the fact they should have been treated as containing extremely flammable substances.

Both companies and a manager were fined a total of £440,000 in relation to the incident.

Discussing the case, David Urpeth of Irwin Mitchell said: “One of the most devastating facts about this terrible, fatal work accident is that could and should have been avoided if the correct safety measures had been taken from the outset.

“This case should send a warning signal to other firms that they simply cannot underestimate the importance of handling such materials in the proper manner.

“I hope that lessons can be learnt from this incident which will ensure that similar problems are not repeated at other places of work in the future.”