Recycling company fined £40,000A recycling company has been fined £40,000 after an arson attack exposed unsafe storage practices at a factory near York.
Harrogate Magistrates' Court heard that BCB Environmental Management, specialists in the treatment of hazardous waste, had processed drums filled with volatile chemicals close to unprotected electrical equipment and regularly used a dangerous and illegal drum crushing machine.
The offences were discovered during a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection of the Tockwith site after a former employee deliberately started a fire.
HSE officer Stephen Britton said: "BCB Environmental Management Ltd processed drums containing flammable liquid close to unprotected electrical equipment, creating a real risk that they could have gone up at any time.
"As a hazardous waste specialist BCB should have been well aware of the relevant legislation and should never have handled flammable material in this way."
The company pleaded guilty to multiple breaches of health and safety legislation.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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