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Safety, Health, Environmental & Quality Bulletin No 677

20 June 2019

Toxic Adhesive Fatality

A flooring company has recently been fined £500,000 plus costs and a property maintenance company
fined £250,000 after a worker died whilst laying tiles in a residential bathroom.

The 30 year old worker was using adhesive to lay floor tiles in the bathroom when he was overcome by
fumes and found dead on the floor by the house owner.

The investigation found that the company’s procedures to control the risks from use of the hazardous
chemical (dichloromethane) in confirmed space were inadequate. When the worker was found he was
wearing a face mask that was completely ineffective for the task.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Peter Collingwood said: “This tragic incident which has had a
devastating effect on a young family was wholly avoidable. It is important that companies have an
appreciation of their duties, (whether to its employees or its customers) and have effective systems and
procedures in place to ensure that those duties are fulfilled”

When using chemicals it is essential that you read the COSHH assessment thoroughly, never use a
chemical if you haven’t got a COSHH assessment for the chemical which is relevant to the
task/environment where you will be using it. Remember a COSHH assessment is an assessment as to if
the chemical is safe to use for a specific use, if the use changes you will need a separate assessment.

In the case of Xmo, most of our COSSH assessments are for painting or cleaning surfaces of external
signage, so they are based on the environment having natural ventilation and open spaces – they are
therefore not relevant if you want to use the chemical indoors. Read the assessment, if it does not cover
your specific requirements, stop and contact your line manager.

See more details on this incident at https://press.hse.gov.uk/2019/05/23/two-companies-fined-after-
floor-layer-fatally-exposed-to-toxic-substance/

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works for
us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!