Last week the Health & Safety Executive announced that a UK company was fined 1 million after two employees suffered serious burns. The incident occurred in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. The employees were burnt when the vapour of a flammable chemical, which was being used to clean the distillation tank part of a component washer, ignited and caused an explosion. Both employees suffered significant burn injuries. It was found that no risk assessment had been undertaken and that no safe system of work had been put in place.
HSE principal inspector Paul Thompson said, “If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the injuries suffered by the employees could have been prevented” More information on this accident can be found on:
Click here for more tips and tricks on preventing accidents
Risk identification and assessment are the starting point for the safe use of chemicals and the preventive work of damage to the workplace. However, risk assessment is often perceived as challenging and time-consuming.
STEP 1: Find the Source of The Danger
STEP 2: Avoid Implications
STEP 3: Measures
STEP 4: Priorities
STEP 5: Assess
For more information on all of the above steps download our free guide
Simple Risk Assessments in Five Steps.