A Gateshead company has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to take steps to protect workers from being exposed to hazardous fumes.

The employees of Turbo Power Systems Ltd were working at its Team Valley Trading Estate site and were exposed to solder flux fumes between May 2007 and May 2008. The workers mainly used rosin-based wire for soldering purposes – and some soldered for up to five-and-a-half hours a day.

Solder flux fumes are known to cause occupational asthma.

On Tuesday (06/10/09) at Gateshead Magistrates’ Court, Turbo Power Systems Ltd – whose head office is at West Drayton, Middlesex – pleaded guilty to three breaches of health and safety legislation relating to Regulation 6(1), Regulation 7(1) and Regulation 11(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

 
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrea Robbins said:

‘It is well established that exposure to rosin-based solder flux fumes can lead to the development of occupational asthma. It was therefore entirely foreseeable that failure by the company to implement appropriate assessment, control measures to reduce exposure to these fumes – and a failure to have health surveillance – would put their employees at risk.

‘The company has now introduced a range of improvements, including the use of a non-rosin based solder flux, where possible – and provision of local extraction ventilation and a programme of health surveillance.’

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