Health of employees must be properly protected?

The well-being of workers must be 'properly protected', according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Jo Anderson, an inspector for the organisation, made the comment after an NHS trust was fined for failing to prevent an employee from being exposed to dangerous chemicals while cleaning an X-ray machine.

It is believed that the female worker had cleaned the system for several years, leaving her open to a substance that can cause skin and breathing difficulties.

The case has highlighted how important respiratory and hand protection can be to employees in certain sectors.

Ms Anderson said: 'All employers must have systems in place to ensure that work with hazardous substances is identified, in order that the health of employees can be properly protected.

'This should include non-routine work, such as cleaning, maintenance and out-of-hours work.'

Details about the case have emerged after the HSE also prosecuted the manager of a construction for an incident in which a worker suffered injuries after falling from an unprotected wall.

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