Connect Property Services, a subsidiary of Peabody Group, has been fined £400,000 after a worker died from inhaling Dicholoromethane (DCM) vapours while laying a bathroom floor.
Darren Nevill, a 38-year old Connect employee, collapsed while at work on a property in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, on 9 December 2020. An investigation by the HSE found that he was using an adhesive containing Dichloromethane (DCM); Connect Property Services Limited has subsequently banned workers from using the substance.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Stevenage Magistrates Court on 26 January, and was ordered to pay £9,676 in costs in addition to the fine.
The court heard that Nevill had been using a damaged glue canister, which led to a large amount of the solvent being released.
Prosecutor Jon Mack said: “HSE scientists calculated that the statutory 15-minute exposure limit for DCM would have been reached within 2-13 seconds, and the final concentration in the bathroom at the time of Mr Nevill’s death would have been 84.5 times the exposure limit.” The court was told he had three times the fatal concentration of DCM in his system when he died.
Connect Property Services has expressed sympathy for Nevill’s family and friends. A spokesperson said: “This was a tragic accident. It is an upsetting time for all of Darren’s colleagues as we remember the distressing loss of a valued member of our team.
“Connect Property Services reported the incident to the HSE immediately following the incident, and we’ve cooperated fully throughout the investigation.”
“Following the incident, the use of the product was immediately stopped, and we do not allow the use of contact spray adhesives containing Dichloromethane by our employees or contractors.
“We also strengthened procedures, training and controls to significantly reduce the risk of anything like this happening again. We continue to make sure the lessons learnt from this tragedy are remembered today.”