HSE hits repairer with fine
DM Accident Repair Centre Ltd of Neath has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after failing to comply with an improvement notice.
Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard DM Accident Repair Centre Ltd of Neath had a routine inspection by an inspector from the HSE from which an improvement notice was served. The company had been using a spraybooth to spray isocyanate paints, and the spraybooth had not been inspected by a competent person.
The court heard that the owner, who had been ‘uncooperative’, failed to comply with the notice, despite several efforts by HSE staff to explain the need for compliance and how to comply.
The repair centre was subsequently fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,666 after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 9(2) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH), and Section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
