The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies to ensure they protect their employees' health and safety, following an incident at a car garage in Sleaford.

The company, based on Lincoln Road, Sleaford, was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £9,000 costs, at Grantham Magistrates' Court today (5 March 2009), after pleading guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

In January 2008, a student from a local school was enrolled on a work experience placement at Holdingham Garage, owned by Hockmeyer Motors Ltd, when he suffered burns from a fire-ball. The fire-ball, which melted the plastic print of his t-shirt onto his skin, was caused by brake fluid which ignited after being sprayed onto a running engine by a colleague.

HSE inspector Judith McNulty-Green, said: "This incident left a young man hospitalised, and could have been avoided if the company had assessed the risk associated with such habitual use of the solvent and implemented appropriate risk control measures to reduce identified risks.

"Work experience pupils are viewed as employees for the purposes of health and safety legislation, yet they are often more vulnerable than a company's trained and qualified employees.

"It is therefore imperative that if companies contract to have work experience pupils from local schools they update any risk assessments to take into consideration this particularly vulnerable group of employee.

"HSE produces a wide range of guidance to assist companies that use flammable substances on its premises, so that obvious risks can be identified. However, this does not negate the need for companies to carry out site specific risk assessments."

Notes

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

HSE