A CHEMICAL company has been fined £20,000 for failing to ensure the safety of its workers.

Plastics manufacturer BASF was yesterday fined the maximum amount that magistrates could impose after admitting that "it did not take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees" at its Seal Sands complex, near Billingham.

A breach of health and safety regulations came to light during an investigation into the death of production technician Derek Tuck, 41, at the Teesside plant three years ago today.

A jury inquest held earlier this year heard that the father-of-three had probably been making an unauthorised preparation for sampling hydrogen cyanide when he inhaled fumes.

Mr Tuck, of Talgarth Road, Norton, was not wearing a protective mask and had no back-up worker present when he collapsed. The inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Teesside Magistrates were told the breaches BASF admitted had not led to Mr Tuck's death, but had come to light during the subsequent investigation.

But the court heard BASF sampling procedures had radically changed with a £267,000 upgrade of the plant following the tragedy.

Health and Safety Executive factories inspector Peter Hanlon said after the case: "The BASF system for working with samples of hydrogen cyanide failed acceptable standards.

"The company had ample opportunity over many years to review and improve those systems. This was not done and this is why this prosecution was brought.''

Lawyer Rob Elvin, representing BASF, said: "It has put things right since the breach was pointed out and explained by the Health and Safety Executive.

"In terms of health and safety, this is a significantly different company now. It has addressed the issues that were raised and done what it could.

"It is important to bear in mind it is not the case that there had been no risk assessment.

"One was carried out, but it did not quite identify all the risks, therefore not all control measures were in place.''

The company was ordered to pay costs of £4,151 and given 28 days in which to pay.

Mr Hanlon said afterwards: "The lesson for other companies is to check and review systems of work on a regular basis to ensure they meet minimum legal standards.''