18 June 2009
Sasha Wood

A wind turbine blade manufacturer has pleaded guilty to offences under the Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) after thirteen workers developed dermatitis when they were exposed to epoxy resins.

Staff at the Danish-owned Vestas Blades factory in Newport, Isle of Wight, complained of dermatitis symptoms including severe itching, and swellings and rashes on their arms, hands and face that sometimes lasted for days.

As part of the wind turbine manufacturing process they had been using epoxy resins, which are well known to cause allergic reactions and skin sensitisation. But the firm had done little to minimise the risk of contamination and as a result, employees' skin was regularly exposed to the wet resin.

Following numerous reports of workers contracting contact allergic dermatitis at the plant, the HSE decided to investigate. Inspectors discovered that the firm had not taken steps to minimise employees' risk of exposure and had not provided them with the right PPE.

The company risk assessment was found to be inadequate because it did not take into account the high-risk nature of the work and the likelihood that hazardous substances could be spilt, splashed or transferred to exposed skin by cross contamination.

"Dermatitis is not a trivial condition," said HSE inspector Roger Upfold. "Epoxy resins are hazardous substances with well-known ill-health effects. Skin contact with this type of substance can result in long term consequences. People who become sensitised to this type of substance may not ever be able to work again with the substance without experiencing serious ill-health effects."

Upfold said employers using hazardous substances must assess the risks, devise a package of measures to control exposure and manage the risk through training, supervision, reviewing the actual practice and taking action where necessary.

At Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, Vestas Blades was fined £10,000 for breaching Sections 6 and 7 of the COSHH Regulations, for failing to assess the risks posed by the use of epoxy resin and not taking steps to control exposure. The court also ordered the firm to pay £25,000 in costs.

In April, Vestas announced closure of the Newport factory with the loss of 600 jobs, due to insufficient orders.

Categories:
Chemicals (and COSHH), HSE, Personal protective equipment (PPE), Risk assessment, Risk assessment, Chemicals (and COSHH), Enforcement (prosecutions), Manufacturing / engineering, Prosecutions, Enforcement (prosecutions)



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