Chemicals firm fined £100k for ignoring HSE

A Deeside-based chemical company has been fined £100,000 after the Health & Safety Executive prosecuted it for failing to comply with three Improvement Notices aimed at preventing environmental damage from fire or explosion.

Euticals, formerly Archimica, which manufactures and distributes speciality chemical products in Sandycroft, Deeside, was visited repeatedly between March 2008 and October 2010. The company continually failed to demonstrate they had an understanding of how to take the measures necessary to prevent major incidents and limit their consequences to employees and the wider environment.

Mold Crown Court heard that adequate measures had not been taken to eliminate or reduce the risks arising from dangerous substances in case of fires or explosions. The company was also found not to have committed the necessary resources to ensure compliance with the required standards, despite visits and advice from HSE inspectors.

After the hearing HSE inspector Mark Burton said: "Archimica had plenty of opportunity to comply with the Improvement Notices after repeated visits from HSE and they still chose not to. They deal with dangerous chemicals every day and have a legal responsibility to make sure that how they do that is safe.

"That responsibility extends not only to their employees but to the site's neighbours and any visitors, as well as the environment. There's the possibility for a major incident when manufacturing and distributing this kind of product and failing to plan for it could have devastating consequences."

Euticals of Prince William Avenue, Sandycroft, Deeside, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to failing to comply with three Improvement Notices under Section 33 (1) (g) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £8,344 in costs.