Pharmaceutical company fined following H&S breach

A pharmaceutical company based in Swindon has been prosecuted by the HSE after several of its employees were affected by a potent chemical.

Catalent U.K. Swindon Zydis Limited was investigated by the HSE following reports that staff had contracted allergic contact dermatitis after coming into contact with the substance Olanzapine.

Ten of the firm's employees from the Swindon office - which trades as Catalent Pharma Solutions – developed the skin condition. Alongside being an active ingredient in one of the most widely-used prescription antipsychotic drugs, Olanzapine is also known to be a cause of allergic contact dermatitis.

During the HSE investigation, another eight staff members contracted the skin disease. The H&S body found that the firm had failed to review its risk assessment in light of the condition of the first ten employees. The firm only began a review – which is required by law – in February 2008, despite the first case being discovered the previous December.

Joanna Knight, HSE inspector, said, “Catalent UK Swindon Zydis failed to address the inadequacies not only in its systems for working with hazardous substances, but also in its systems for health surveillance and keeping health records.

“This is an uncomfortable and irreversible condition, which can cause the skin to crack and bleed, and could have been completely avoided had Catalent taken the time to review its risk assessment,” she added.

Catalent U.K. Swindon Zydis Limited were fined £50,000 plus £50,123.10 costs after they pleased guilty to breaching the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.