A building products firm has been fined after a worker suffered chemical burns to his legs on his first day of full time employment

Stressline Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

It was fined £12,000 with over £2,000 in costs.

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard how the 21-year-old inexperienced employee was exposed to alkaline cement slurry after standing in a drainage pit in Stoney Stanton on 28 April 2014.

As the pit had inadequate Personal Protective Equipment., the worker suffered cement burns to his feet and ankles.

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He was hospitalised for three weeks, required plastic surgery, and his feet and lower legs are scarred for life.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Stressline had not appreciated slurry from cured concrete dust posed the same risks as that from cement or wet uncured concrete.

In addition, the manufacturer had no risk assessment for the slurry or suitable and sufficient controls to eliminate, reduce or control the risks.

HSE said a mechanical system to remove slurry from the water pit would have prevented the injuries.

In a statement to the court, the worker said: "A year after the accident my feet are scarred. My right foot is worse than my left. I find it difficult still to walk. I don’t know how my feet will improve in the long term. I wouldn’t like anyone to go through what I have had to go through."

HSE inspector Dr Richenda Dixon said: "The risks from concrete and cement are well known in this industry. Companies need to protect agency workers as they are as likely to have injures in the first six months of employment as in the rest of their working lives."

(LM/CD)