The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a South Tyneside manufacturing firm on the grounds of exposing workers to potentially hazardous fumes.
HSE inspectors visited Variable Message Signs Ltd, of Monkton Business Park, in Hebburn after concerns were raised by them about the way the company was controlling the potential risk of workers developing occupational asthma.
It was brought to the notice of South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, that engineers at the company were using rosin based solder flux, during repair work, and fumes given off by this particular solder have been proven to be a significant factor in the development of occupational asthma.
An investigation by the HSE revealed that employees often worked with the solder for up to four hours a day, without a proper system in place to extract the potentially dangerous vapours.
£5,000 fine was awarded to the Variable Message Signs Ltd and after admitting three breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act, following a successful prosecution by the HSE at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court , they were ordered to pay court costs totalling £4,291.25.