Templetown Canopies Limited, of South Shields, use styrene in the production of fibreglass canopies for doors and windows. Prolonged exposure to styrene can lead to irritation in the nose, throat and lungs, as well as causing difficulty in concentrating, drowsiness, headaches and nausea.
South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that the company was issued with an Improvement Notice in May 2013, and warned to control the exposure of their workers to styrene. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that this was not adhered to until the Templetown Canopies moved premises in March 2015.
The HSE investigation concluded that, between May 2013 and March 2015, the company did not adhere to the recommended safety protocol when handling styrene. The company should have installed an extraction system to remove fumes and provided masks to prevent operators from breathing in dust.
Templetown Canopies Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The company was fined £8,500 and ordered to pay costs of £4,500.
HSE inspector Fiona McGarry said after the hearing: “Whilst HSE is sympathetic to the pressures faced by small businesses, this is simply not acceptable. Employers need to take action to ensure they are providing adequate control to protect the health of their employees.”
