Firm fined £5k for dirty facilities

A London window manufacturer was prosecuted for ignoring two Improvement Notices requiring them to bring employee welfare facilities up to a clean and hygienic standard.

At the City of London Magistrates' Court today, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted TLC Glazing Ltd, of Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham, Morden.

The court heard that on 20 May 2010, at a routine inspection of the factory, HSE found the toilets in a poor state of repair. They were very dirty, with no supply of hot water, no soap for hand-washing and no means of hand-drying.

The inspection also found that the area where employees were supposed to take rest breaks and eat lunch was not properly equipped, and was covered in dust and debris from the adjacent workshop.

The HSE inspector served two Improvement Notices on the company, giving them a month to bring the employees' welfare facilities up to to a decent standard.

When the inspector returned a month later on 18 June, TLC Glazing Ltd had taken no action to comply with the notices, and the toilets facilities and rest area were in the same poor state.

HSE Inspector Clare 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.

"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."

TLC Glazing Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,968 costs.