£40,000 fine after blaze
A York recycling company has been fined £40,000 for failing to safely store flammable liquid, which was later used in an arson attack.
The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into a hazardous waste specialist after a former employee started a blaze at the company’s premises in 2008.
The probe found that the company had stored drums of dangerous chemicals close to unprotected electrical equipment. An unsafe and illegal drum crushing machine, on which the emergency stop button was almost unrecognisable and a vital guard was missing, was also in regular use by the firm.
The company pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of health and safety legislation.
Harrogate Magistrates’ Court fined them £40,000 and ordered it to pay £6,110 in costs. The employee was prosecuted for arson at an earlier hearing.
