ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The New Zealand operation of cleaning company OCS has been fined 47,500 euros after two of its employees required plastic surgery after suffering chemical burns because of poor supervision.

The company was sentencedin Napier District Court on two charges of failing to take all practicable steps to protect a man and woman employed to clean the slaughter floor of Progressive Meats in Hastings.

The employees used a heavy-duty cleaning chemical called Magnafoam, which was to be dispensed using a hand pump or an automatic dilution system.

On November 13 2010 the man suffered burns to his lower leg and ankle. Three days later the woman suffered burns to her right wrist and thumb.

In early December a Progressive Meats risk adviser made an unannounced visit to the plant and found an employee using undiluted Magnafoam.

The judge accepted that OCS had systems in place to properly train employees, and that it "regarded health and safety as a top priority", but found its supervision of the employees inadequate.