Essex Chemical Firm Fined £3.8M After Life-Changing Burns

An Essex-based chemical manufacturing company, Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), has been fined £3.8 million following an investigation into serious chemical burns suffered by two employees at its sites in West Thurrock and Grays. The incidents, which occurred in 2019 and 2022, involved exposure to highly corrosive caustic soda.

Serious Workplace Incidents Lead to Heavy Fine

Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), headquartered at Jupiter House, Warley Hill Business Park, The Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3BE, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The company was also ordered to pay costs of £124,748 at Southwark Crown Court on 21 April 2026.

In the most severe incident, Michael Bartholomew, now 60, from Grays in Essex, lost his leg below the knee after stepping into a puddle of caustic soda at ICL's Old Power Station site on Stoneness Road, West Thurrock, in 2019. His safety boots were found to be inadequate and not sufficiently tested against British Standards. A second worker required skin grafts in 2022 after sustaining burns while decanting caustic soda at the Grays site.

HSE Inspector Julia Gebauer stated: “This was a company operating with significant volumes of a highly corrosive material but had manifestly failed to put proper measures in place to protect their workers and prevent exposure.” The investigation revealed consistent failures to properly assess and control risks associated with hazardous substances across both sites.

Local Area & Safety Context

Workplace safety remains a critical concern across Great Britain, with 124 workers tragically losing their lives in work-related incidents between April 2024 and March 2025. Additionally, 680,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries in 2024/25, with 59,219 of these being RIDDOR-reportable. Around 13,000 deaths annually are attributed to work-related lung disease and cancer from past exposures, and in 2015, approximately 99% of work-related deaths were linked to chemical exposures.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides comprehensive guidance on chemical safety in the workplace. Employers are legally required to control the use of chemicals by assessing risks and implementing effective control measures. Key advice includes following established procedures, always using and inspecting required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and ensuring all chemical containers are properly labelled and stored. It is crucial to read Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for information on hazards, handling, storage, and emergency procedures. Minimising employee exposure, restricting access to chemical areas, and providing regular chemical safety training are also vital preventative measures.

For individuals affected by burn injuries, several UK charities offer vital support. Dan's Fund for Burns provides emotional, practical, and financial assistance to adult burn survivors, including a weekly online support chat. The Katie Piper Foundation supports adult burn survivors with physical and emotional wellbeing through various services. Changing Faces offers mental health, wellbeing, and skin camouflage services for those with visible differences. The British Burn Association (BBA) is also a charity dedicated to promoting education and research in all aspects of burn care and prevention.

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OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on an official press release issued by a UK Police Force. Document: Chemical company fined £3.8 million after investigation into serious chemical burns suffered Source Link