Companies that work with chemicals and other hazardous substances have been warned to implement the correct safety procedures by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an incident in which an employee suffered an injury.

An unnamed employee of Oxford-based O’Brien & McIntyre LLP was standing in a trench when wet concrete poured over the top of his wellington boot.

He suffered chemical burns below the knee as a result, injuries that were compounded by the fact that there were no washing facilities on the site.

HSE inspector Tony Woodward said the lack of knowledge and appropriate safety measures was unacceptable.

"Wet cement can cause burns; these often take months to heal and in extreme cases need skin grafts or can even lead to amputation," he added.

The company was fined £500 and costs of £150 for breaching the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, although the maximum penalty for a breach of the act is a fine of £5,000.

Risks of being burnt or scalded in the workplace should be eliminated by the employer where possible, or workers should be given appropriate safety clothing.