Welsh dairy company fined after worker injured

A Wrexham-based dairy firm has been fined after a worker was covered in hot caustic and steam resulting in serious injuries.

Wrexham Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 3 May 2017, a Tomlinson’s Dairies Limited employee was modifying the pipework at the back of one of the plants when a pneumatic valve opened covering him in hot caustic and steam. The worker suffered serious burns to 27% of his resulting in a four week stay to recover in hospital.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to ensure the safe isolation of plant and pipework before work commenced. The company had relied on informal risk control systems and arrangements which were no longer sufficient for a business of its size.

Tomlinson’s Dairies Limited of Five Crosses Industrial Estate, Minera, Wrexham has pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4267.20.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Gary Martin said “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of work and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.
“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life-changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk