A North East home improvement company has been fined for failing to protect workers from a harmful chemical.

Templetown Canopies Limited, of Shaftsburry Avenue, South Shields, makes decorative fibreglass canopies and columns for windows and doors.

The manufacturing process involves the use of styrene, a hazardous chemical that can cause symptoms including concentration problems, headaches, tiredness and forgetfulness. It can also irritate the throat, nose and lungs.

An improvement notice was served on the company after an inspection in May 2013. However, the company did not take steps to meet the required standards until it moved to a new site in March 2015.

Enquiries by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the company had failed to properly control employees’ exposure to styrene by installing an extraction system and giving them filtered masks to prevent fumes being breathed in.

Templetown Canopies admitted breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and was fined £8,500 plus £4,500 in costs at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

“Workers’ health was put at risk from exposure to styrene for a period of 22 months, even after the company had been made aware of the actions it needed to take,” said HSE Inspector Fiona McGarry.

“Whilst HSE is sympathetic to the pressures faced by small businesses, this is simply not acceptable. Employers need to take action to ensure they are providing adequate control to protect the health of their employees.”