Scottish chemical company fined £400,000

A Scottish chemical company has been fined £400,000 after an employee was seriously injured while carrying out a routine task at one of its sites.  Whilst attempting to clear a blockage in a sump, which contained a solution of caustic, the injured person fell and sustained severe burn injuries, after the covering grating collapsed. An investigation by the HSE found that the company had failed to undertake a risk assessment of the work involved. There was also no safe system of work in place, the grating was not secured and there were no barriers in place to prevent a fall into the sump.