Three men have been left with chemical burns after an accident at work in Burton on Trent.
A brewery in the town admitted to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after the three sub-contractors were hurt due to a faulty valve. The valve released 6,000 litres of caustic soda, leaving the individuals with chemical burns.
One of the workers was temporarily blinded, another suffered from 25 per cent burns, leaving him with scars and a lasting sensitivity to heat, while a third suffered minor skin burns and irritation to his eyes.
The men were not offered adequate instructions or appropriate personal protective equipment for the job, according to the hearing at Cannock Magistrates' Court.
As a result of its failures, the brewery has been fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £43,674 in costs. However, the three men concerned could also stand to gain by making an accident at work claim.
Lyn Spooner, Health and Safety Executive inspector, commented: “All companies must manage contractors properly and make sure that they are following health and safety procedures.
“They must also carry out proper risk assessments for any work that contractors are required to carry out.”