Employer prosecuted after worker suffers severe burns

A company has been prosecuted after one of its workers sustained serious burns.

BAE Systems Land Systems - a designer and manufacturer of military weapons and vehicle systems - was ordered to pay a fine of £50,000 plus costs of £15,000 during a hearing at Cardiff crown court as a result of the incident.

It was also ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation to the employee.

In August 2004, agency worker Ryan White was engaged in the process of destroying pyrotechnic composition.

During the course of his activities, the material ignited, causing him to suffer severe burns to his face, neck and arms.

A subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that the disposal procedures being implemented at the time of the accident did not comply with BAE's own approved specification.

"This was a clear case of a company having written policies and procedures in place but clearly failing to ensure that they were implemented correctly," stated investigating HSE inspector David Norman.

04/09/2008 15:31