Workplace Report July 2009

Health & safety news

Safety failures at turbine manufacturer

Vestas Blades, a manufacturer that makes onshore wind turbines, has been fined for health and safety breaches.

The company was fined £10,000 and told to pay the HSE’s costs after it failed to prevent workers from being exposed to hazardous substances.

Between 2005 and 2007, 13 employees suffered dermatitis after exposure to epoxy resin. Workers suffered through being allowed to use protective equipment wrongly and having safety glasses that did not protect all the face, through processing methods that did not minimise risk and through inadequate risk assessment.