James Harrison, a former managing director, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months with 20 hours unpaid work, and ordered to pay costs of £5428.21.
The circumstances of the offences were:
- Mr.Harrison was the former managing director of the now dissolved Laser Shapes (NW) Limited who manufactured agricultural trailers.
- Employees of Laser Shapes regularly used aerosolised paints containing isocyanates and solvents to spray large tractor trailers.
- Inhalation of isocyanates and solvents can cause occupational asthma, dizziness, liver and kidney damage.
- This activity was being carried out without adequate controls in place to prevent workers from inhaling harmful substances.
- Mr.Harrison deliberately hid unsafe working practices from HSE inspectors.
The HSE inspector said
“James Harrison was well aware of the unsafe conditions that his employees were being subjected to whilst at work. The effect of being exposed to these substances has resulted in at least one former employee developing a life changing condition, which could easily have been prevented if proper controls had been in place, such as suitable extraction and respiratory protective equipment.”
“James Harrison was well aware of the unsafe conditions that his employees were being subjected to whilst at work. The effect of being exposed to these substances has resulted in at least one former employee developing a life changing condition, which could easily have been prevented if proper controls had been in place, such as suitable extraction and respiratory protective equipment.”
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