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Company fined after employee is burned

A motor equipment and repairs company in Birmingham has been fined after a worker was badly injured when a chemical caught fire.

Harjit Singh Matharu was working underneath a vehicle with an oxy-acetylene welding gun when a faulty hose leaking the chemical set alight, burning his arms and face.

Due to the accident, A1 Rewinds were fined £2,000 and ordered to pay legal fees of £1,500 after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety regulations at Birmingham magistrates court on Friday (April 24th).

Pam Folsom, investigating inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "It is important for companies to ensure that they have fully considered all the risks their employees may face when using any equipment. The hoses were so obviously badly perished that there is no excuse for this incident."

A garage in Sleaford was recently fined £15,000 and ordered to pay legal costs of £9,000 after a work experience student suffered burns from a fireball caused by igniting brake fluid.

Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy

Posted on 28/04/2009

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