HSE Reprimands Company for Not Complying with Fire-Safety Regulations
January 20th, 2010
A. M. Widdowson & Son Ltd was fined £5,000 and asked to pay £4,900 as costs after HSE found that it had been storing aerosol products at its Leicestershire site.
HSE discovered that the company had been storing huge amounts of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) at its Hilltop Industrial Estate and had failed to evaluate the dangers/risk of a possible fire.
The company also failed to alert the relevant authorities of the undertaking at the site; it also neglected to fulfil a risk assessment and fell short of carrying out the necessary and correct practices that are required at such sites.
Coalville
James Wright, an HSE Inspector, said that HSE was disappointed at the lack of proper arrangements made by the haulage company and that the company also failed to report that it was operating on a site that came under COMAH Regulations.
Wright also said that the company was irresponsible in storing such large amounts of aerosol and putting many employees and the local public under danger of a large-scale fire.
Wright warned all other such businesses of stern action from HSE if they fail to follow the proper guidelines put down for the safe and correct storage of aerosol products at operation sites, in order to safeguard the lives of employees as well as nearby residents.
Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions with effective policies around health and safety decisions. Fire Risk Assessment will benefit organisations in enabling them to understand their responsibilities for fire safety, and put in place measures to control the risks of fire as required under legislation.
