Hereford company and their H&S advisor fined after person became skin sensitised to ingredients in rubber sealant

Hereford-based TRP Polymer Solutions Limited, which manufactures rubber sealants, was fined £46,529 (inc.costs) after a worker contracted allergic contact dermatitis.

The circumstances were:

• Employees were exposed to sensitising ingredients in rubber compounds.
• The company’s health and safety advisor failed to understand the underlying issues to the level required for the company to understand its responsibilities.
• The company failed to assess risks from products used or manage those risks.
• The employee contracted the skin disease

The company’s health and safety advisor was fined £1200 (inc.costs) for failing to carry out her duty under the act to a level of competence expected by someone carrying out her role.