Cleaning firm fined after worker suffers burns

A cleaning product manufacturer has been fined after an agency worker suffered burns when she was "doused" in a corrosive sink unblocker, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed.

Marzanna Sokolowska sustained burns to her face, eye, neck and arm after "accidentally opening the wrong valve" on a container at Flowchem UK in Sandiacre, Derbyshire, on 2 November 2023.

Flowchem UK Ltd of Mark Street, Sandiacre, admitted breaching safety regulations at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

On Thursday, it was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000.

The HSE investigation found the company's work systems "exposed their employees and agency workers to health and safety risks in the event of leaks or losses of containment".

Sokolowska was working in a team decanting sink and drain unblocker from bulk containers at shoulder height into smaller containers for sale, the HSE said.

She accidentally opened the outlet valve on an adjacent container, which had no end cap fitted and the liquid sprayed with force "splashing her in the face and upper body," the body said.

HSE Inspector, Angus Robbins, said: "The systems of work employed by Flowchem unnecessarily exposed workers to risks of injury from exposure to corrosive chemicals.

"More suitable working methods, including avoidance of decanting large volumes stored at or above head height could have been employed.

"Following the incident, Flowchem changed their working methods to eliminate these risks.

"Ms Sokolowska suffered very painful injuries and was unable to work for a considerable period. Of particular concern were the burns to her eyelid and eye.

"Fortunately, she has made a reasonable recovery and been able to return to work."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.