{"id":534558,"date":"2025-12-11T13:07:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=534558"},"modified":"2025-12-11T13:08:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:08:07","slug":"30-workers-suspended-from-major-chemicals-company-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/buildings\/30-workers-suspended-from-major-chemicals-company-project-11-12-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"30 workers suspended from major chemicals company project"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A group of 30 workers have been suspended from a chemical company\u2019s construction site in Royston, Hertfordshire, after they downed tools over health and safety concerns.<\/p>\n<p>GMB and Unite have released separate statements alleging poor ventilation, grinding of paint with carcinogenic properties, lack of cold weather clothing, frozen pipes and no running water at client Johnson Matthey\u2019s project.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson Matthey said it \u201ccompletely reject(s)\u201d the claims, stating air quality had been independently assessed and found to be acceptable. It added that, despite statements from the unions claiming the site is a gigafactory, the job is actually to build a P<span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">latinum Group Metals refinery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>BGEN and Bilfinger are leading the project, where unions allege that the 30 workers were suspended after downing tools for two weeks and refusing to work in \u201cunsafe conditions\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (pictured) said: \u201cWorkers are being put in danger with their mental and physical health being totally disregarded by Johnson Matthey, BGEN and Bilfinger.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe HSE [Health and Safety Executive] needs to be on site now to launch an urgent investigation as well as Unite given access to the site to support members. Unite will not rest until the workforce\u2019s concerns are addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two workers on the project have taken their own lives, according to the unions.<\/p>\n<p>GMB senior organiser John Colquhoun said: \u201cThe recent suspension of around 30 employees who stood down due to the site being unsafe demonstrates they have learned nothing from the experience [of the suicides].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGMB and Unite have continuously tried to gain access to the site to support our members to improve working relations, but we have been denied since day one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>North East Hertfordshire MP Chris Hinchliff added: \u201cI am deeply concerned about the conditions and alleged treatment that construction workers have faced on this important project.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He urged the contractors on site to speak to the unions about the issues.<\/p>\n<p>A Johnson Matthey spokesperson rejected all the allegations.<\/p>\n<p>He said: \u201cSafety is always our number one priority and we take all possible steps to make sure workers have a secure working environment. We completely reject the unions\u2019 assertion of conditions at the site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">\u201cThe issues that have been raised by the unions were mitigated swiftly. For instance, a third-party independent assessment monitored and sampled air quality with results identifying levels well below the recommended HSE Occupational Exposure Limit. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u201cWhen planned site maintenance on the boiler system meant that heating was lost for a short period, portable heating systems were installed within hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added that the <span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"> dispute relates to a new Platinum Group Metals refinery currently being built in Royston and due to become operational in 2027.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>A Bilfinger spokesperson said: \u201cWe refute the allegations regarding the disregard of physical and mental health and the claim that Bilfinger refused union representatives access to the site. Bilfinger UK takes the health, safety and wellbeing of all personnel extremely seriously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and have taken precautionary steps in line with standard procedures. Our priority remains supporting our employees and maintaining a safe working environment. We provide our onsite team with wellbeing support and counselling, and continue to make these services available.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>M Group, BGEN\u2019s parent company, have been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A group of 30 workers have been suspended from a chemical company\u2019s construction site in Royston, Hertfordshire, after they downed tools over health and safety concerns. GMB and Unite have released separate statements alleging poor ventilation, grinding of paint with carcinogenic properties, lack of cold weather clothing, frozen pipes and no running water at client &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43915,"featured_media":439693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[547,581],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-534558","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buildings","category-health-and-safety"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.7 (Yoast SEO v26.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>30 workers suspended from major chemicals company project | Construction News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A group of 30 workers have been suspended from a chemical company\u2019s construction site in 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