Owner of car body repair company fined £5600 for failing to comply with 2 improvement notices.

Christopher Hutton, trading as Auto Bodyworks and Wheel Clinic, was fined £5600 for failing to comply with two improvement notices.

The circumstances were:

During an inspection on 30th April 2014, the HSE determined that Mr Hutton had not carried out:

• Examination of the test spray booth, and
• Health surveillance of employees exposed to isocyanates (which can cause respiratory sensitisation).

Mr Hutton was served with Improvement Notices including:

• Improvement Notice I/300414/EW1, 
• Improvement Notice I/300414/EW2 .

Mr Hutton had been given a number of opportunities to comply with the Improvement Notices but had failed to do so. He was therefore prosecuted.

The HSE inspector commented:
“Exposure to isocyanate containing paints is the main cause of occupational asthma in the UK. There are well established standards to protect the health of employees which Christopher Hutton had failed to achieve.”