EXCLUSIVE BY RACHEL SPENCER

A WARRINGTON chemical factory is at the centre of a health row over allegations that workers were exposed to toxic chemicals at the plant.

Chris Shaw, a former employee of Vinamul Ltd on Eastford Road, retired on ill health grounds when he was 34 years old and he is now taking legal action against the firm which he claims exposed him to toxic vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which was stored in the building in which he worked.

Mr Shaw said the two buildings are used for treating chemicals at the plant. In the Pressure building VCM is used and monitored and emissions are treated and ventilated into the atmosphere.

The Conventional building where Mr Shaw worked wasn't designed to utilise and treat VCM and waste emissions were not treated there, he said.

The 37-year-old who lives in Appleton with his wife and three week old daughter was forced to take early retirement in 1997 after his health plummeted.

He continues to suffer from poor circulation, has lumps on bones, headaches, dizzy spells, memory loss and violent mood swings and is unable to work.

A report from a doctor appointed by Mr Shaw's solicitors, an expert in industrial injuries, states that his impairment is symptomatic with chronic chemical poisoning.

The legal row started after Mr Shaw filed for damages for industrial injuries caused by exposure to VCM. He claims the company knew the chemical was being released in the building but failed to trace the emissions or rectify the leak.

Strict safety controls regulate the use of the cancer causing substance, but Mr Shaw claims that these were not followed. And he has copies of Vinamul documents which state that the maximum exposure level, set by the Department of Health, was exceeded on five occasions.

And another former employer, Barry Beardall, who retired at the age of 40, again on ill health grounds in 1992, says he personally dumped VCM in the conventional building following written instructions from management.

Mr Beardall says he worked on the pilot plant reactor which contained VCM. Andrew Morton, an Environment Agency inspector, in a letter to Mr Shaw said that Vinamul had provided him with information stating that between 1985 and 1995, a pilot plant using VCM was operated in the building in which he worked.

Mr Shaw says that he and a number of his former colleagues, including Mr Beardall are suffering a pattern of ill health similar to that experienced by workers at Vinatex, a plant in Chesterfield where workers fell ill through exposure to VCM. He is anxious that former workers are made aware of the health risks linked to this substance.

Vinamul was unable to comment on historic practices at the plant, or on Mr Shaw's case because of an on-going legal case, but a spokesman told the GUARDIAN: "We take the concerns of our employees and former employees seriously and we are sorry that Mr Shaw and Mr Beardall feel unwell.

"Safety is the number one priority for all of Vinamul's operations. The handling of chemicals and the operation of the plant is carried out in accordance with all relevant safety and environmental regulations and within the terms of the site environmental permits specified by the Environment Agency.

"Vinamul places the utmost importance on ensuring safety and environmental compliance at all times."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "These are historic events. However the HSE has subsequently visited the company to ensure that VCM exposures meet current legislation and no significant breaches of release or regulations have been found.

"Under current legislation VCM is a named substance under COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) which states that an employer has a duty to inform employees of potential health dangers linked to substances with which they work."

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency confirmed that Vinamul had not denied using VCM on site.

She said: "We have investigated the allegations made regarding practices at Vinamul and we are satisfied that environmental legislation has not been breached.

"The legislation we enforce does allow for some unauthorised processes as long as the emissions are minimal."

Are you a former Vinamul employee with health concerns? Contact Rachel Spencer on 434113, or e-mail rspencer@guardiangrp.co.uk