An Alloy Wheel Refurbishment company in Hemel Hempstead has been fined £80,000 for multiple health and safety failings.
St Albans Magistrates’ Court heard how when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a site visit at Maxpowder Limited on 2 March 2022 they found extremely poor standards of health and safety.
That visit came as part of a series of proactive inspections focusing on the use of dichloromethane (DCM) and hydrofluoric acid to strip paint from alloy wheels in industrial installations. The HSE Inspector found the company were exposing their employees to DCM and hydrofluoric acid, because adequate control measures were not in place. They had failed to provide adequate ventilation by means of local exhaust ventilation (LEV), personal protective equipment and information, instruction, and training.
Other breaches of health and safety were also identified, relating to electrical safety and exposure to welding fume.