A manufacturer of aircraft ejector seats, has been fined £800,000 after three workers developed debilitating lung conditions.
Three skilled engineering machine (CNC) operators developed extrinsic allergic alveolitis after many years of years of exposure to the mist of working metal fluid.
Aylesbury Crown Court heard how the workers, who had served with the company for more than 20 years, were exposed to the working metal fluid mist over at least a three-year period.
Extraction not provided to control mist
HSE investigators found that the measures in place within the factory to control the exposure were inadequate and there were also failings in the provision of health surveillance.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (1974) and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and were fined £ 800,000 and ordered to pay costs of over £36,000.
HSE Inspector, Stephen Faulkner, said
“Companies need to make sure they consider workers’ health just as much as their safety when carrying out risk assessments. The dangers of breathing in metal working fluid are well-known within the industry. In this case one worker has had his health permanently and severely damaged, two others have also been affected, all must live with their condition for the rest of their lives.”
