Burns Suffered by Welder Reminds Need for Consistent Systems
A 17-year-old welder, Jack Amey, suffered serious chemical burns to his face and his right eye, while using a banned toxic product at the Moughton Engineering’s factory estate in October 2010.
The toxic product called as pickling paste is used for cleaning steel tanks. It was banned by the engineering company as it had corrosive effects and when in contact with skin, it can cause severe burns. Instead of the paste, an electrode-based cleaning system was being used.
However, for some particular work, it was again bought by the company. When the management noticed this, it ordered the stoppage of its use but not its removal from the site. Later an older member of the staff, who had no knowledge of the paste being banned, gave it to the welder to clean the burn marks in the stainless steel tanks.
The HSE found in its investigation that while Jack was cleaning one of the steel tanks, the tub of pate slipped from his grasp and the paste spilled on his face, causing him severe burns.
This issue was then taken to the Great Yarmouth Magistrate’ Court which ruled that Jack was ignorant of the perilous nature of the paste while using it. It ordered fine to be imposed on the company.
Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions to employees with regard to health and safety issues; an accredited IOSH Training course, by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, can assist organisations to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations, and make sure they are fully aware of the most up-to-date requirements.