A BRADFORD chemical firm is under investigation after an incident at its production site resulted in two workers requiring hospital treatment. 

An enforcement notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) against Nufarm, on Wyke Lane, Wyke, details a number of worrying concerns.

It says the firm, an agricultural chemical company, had "failed to take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences for human health and the environment".

It adds there was a failure to "adopt and implement procedures and instructions for the management of alarms at the establishment, including chlorine detection alarms and as a result of this failure, the operator response to the alarms cannot be relied upon as part of your necessary measures".  

The notice says: "You have failed to provide employees who may be liable to exposure to hazardous substances with suitable information, instruction and training.

"You have failed to provide suitably trained persons to enable first aid to be rendered to your employees, in particular to provide first aid to persons exposed to dangerous gases.

"You have failed to ensure that permit acceptors have suitable or sufficient understanding of the isolations required for work activities; they rely upon the permit to work authorisers knowledge to ensure that adequate isolations are applied to allow work to commence.

"Hence, they are not able to challenge the isolations or understand if adequate isolations are installed."

When approached for comment, Nufarm confirmed an incident happened at the site in August last year.

"This incident resulted in two individuals being treated at a local hospital," said a spokesperson.

"Following the incident, a full internal investigation was carried out by Nufarm. 

"That investigation identified a number of remedial actions which were necessary, and which have been implemented. Nufarm continue to work closely with the regulator to address the issues raised."

The spokesperson added: "Nufarm are committed to providing the highest health safety and environmental standards for its employees and stakeholders and continue to work closely with the Health and Safety Executive to address the issues raised.

"As the HSE investigation continues, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Nufarm was unable to share any further details as to the nature of the incident, but confirmed both individuals are back at work on normal duties with no lasting effects.

The company has been based at the site since 2008 and is a major employer in the Bradford South area.