Home / Health / Skip Firm Fined £30K for Cancer Fumes Exposure
Skip Firm Fined £30K for Cancer Fumes Exposure
19 Jun
Summary
- Firm fined £30,000 for exposing workers to carcinogenic fumes.
- Company repeatedly ignored safety notices for ventilation and PPE.
- Workers also risked harm from prolonged exposure to high noise levels.
Samson Containers Ltd was fined £30,000 for failing to protect its workers from dangerous welding fumes. The company, based in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, exposed employees to carcinogenic fumes without proper ventilation or protective gear. This occurred despite the Health and Safety Executive issuing two enforcement notices in 2024 and 2025.
The skip manufacturer also incurred £4,571 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge at Warrington Magistrates' Court. Inspectors further noted the company neglected its duty to monitor workers' health concerning high noise exposure, a risk for long-term damage.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies mild steel welding fumes as a cause of lung cancer and potentially kidney cancer. Effective control requires suitable ventilation, with respiratory equipment as a backup. HSE Inspector Gemma Feerick emphasized the company's repeated failure to implement basic safety measures.
