The City of London Magistrates’ Court heard that window manufacturer TLC Glazing had ignored two Health & Safety Executive improvement notices requiring them to bring employee facilities up to a clean and hygienic standard.
During a routine inspection of the factory, HSE found the toilets in a poor state. They were very dirty, with no supply of hot water, no soap 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.
HSE inspector served two improvement notices on the company, giving them a month to bring the employees’ welfare facilities up to a decent standard.
When the inspector returned a month later on 18 June, TLC Glazing 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 of Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham, pleaded guilty to breaching section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,968 costs.
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