A vehicle seat manufacturing company based in Ebbw Vale, has been fined after a worker was injured from an explosion.
Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard how an operator at Sears Manufacturing Company (Europe) Limited suffered burns to his head and hands.
Highly flammable release agent is used to prevent dispensed foam sticking to the seat mould.
It was during this process that the release agent ignited, causing an explosion which injured the operator.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 26 January 2015 found that a failure to have suitable control measures in place caused the release agent to ignite.
Sears Manufacturing Company (Europe) Limited, of Rassau Industrial Estate, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5,6, and 9 of Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). Judge Philip Harris-Jenkins said he thought the company bore a medium culpability for the accident and fined them £40,000.The company was also ordered to pay costs of £12,010.
Defending Sears, Rupert Lowe said while the company admitted it could have done more in training to stop the accident, it had ploughed money into ensuring staff were safe over a number of years.
Mr Lowe also said even though the company is at danger of running into “serious operational difficulty”, it will spend £300,000 on health and safety this year.
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