Veolia Cleanaway Site Goes Up In Smoke

International waste management company, Veolia ES Cleanaway (UK) has been fined £150,000 for breaching health and safety regulations following a major fire in Preston that closed two major motorways.

Following a joint 15 month investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, the company was fined and ordered to pay additional costs of £90,000.

After more than 12 hours fighting the blazes, the 66 fire-fighters managed to contain the flames and control the chemicals still remaining on the site.

The HSE stated that their "investigation showed that Veolia didn't do enough to make sure that the dangerous chemicals on its site in Preston were stored safely. The company also failed to provide adequate training for its staff. Any businesses that have flammable substances on their premises need to take appropriate measures to minimise the risk of fires or explosions."

The HSE is also warning businesses to be aware of chemicals and substances present in the workplace that may become fire hazards. These include petrol and paint thinners, as well as less obvious materials like packaging or sawdust.

Mass Services offer a comprehensive range of building surveys and audits to ensure the safety of our clients and their staff. In order to find out about the Mass Services Fire Risk Assessments, please contact our team today on 0118 977 8560 or email info@mass-services.com.