A window manufacturer has been prosecuted for ignoring two Improvement Notices, which required it to raise the standard of hygiene at its factory in London.
City of London Magistrates’ Court heard that an HSE inspector Clare Hawkes carried out a routine inspection at TLC Glazing Ltd’s factory at the Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Morden, on 20 May 2010. The inspector found that the toilets were dirty and in a poor state of repair. She also noted that there was no supply of hot water, no soap, and no means of hand-drying.
The rest area, where employees ate their lunch, was also found to be covered in dust and debris from an adjacent workshop. Inspector Hawkes issued two Improvement Notices, which required the company to bring both areas up to a decent standard of hygiene within a month.
She returned on 18 June 2010 but found the company had made no attempts to comply with the notices, as both areas were in the same poor condition.
TLC Glazing Ltd appeared in court on 14 January and pleaded guilty to breaching s33(1)(g) of the HSWA 1974. It was fined £5000 and ordered to pay £1968 in costs.
Following the hearing, Inspector Hawkes said: “The law requires employers to provide a minimum basic standard of clean and hygienic welfare facilities for workers. There’s no excuse for not providing them.€ﾨ€ﾨ“Failure to provide decent facilities, or to comply with enforcement notices are serious matters. TLC Glazing showed complete disregard for the welfare of its employees and for the law.”
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