A LUXURY boat manufacturer has admitted breaking two health laws after a factory spillage caused a major fire risk and knocked an employee unconscious.

But Kidderminster-based Sealine International faces an anxious five-week wait to see how much it will be fined after town magistrates sent the case to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing.

They could have imposed fines totalling £25,000 for the two offences but decided their powers were insufficient to impose suitable punishment.

The firm pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching health and safety laws for failing to prevent the risk of fire and another breach of hazardous substances rules for not providing breathing equipment for employees cleaning up the spillage.

On Friday, November 16 last year, a pipe had been blocked but a valve was left open after the problem had been solved and about a tonne of polyester resin spilled onto the factory floor, said Stephen Flanagan, the Health and Safety Executive's principal inspector of factories.

The factory was eventually closed at 4.30pm on Tuesday and a team of seven employees assembled to clear up the mess.

"The extraction system was on and doors were open but crucially no respiratory protection was worn," Mr Flanagan said.

One worker, Virginia West, was overcome by fumes from the resin and collapsed unconscious.

She was treated with oxygen at hospital and returned to work the next day but suffered a bad headache for four or five days.

Mr Flanagan said the spillage represented a major fire risk for the four days it was down.

"There must have been no shortage of potential sources of ignition.

"There were ample opportunities to deal with this properly. Our particular concern is that for several days there was no sense of urgency," he added.

He said Sealine, whose management had "fully co-operated", did have a written risk assessment recognising the need for respirators - but safety systems did not work on this occasion.

Andrew Litchfield, defending Sealine, said the incident caused "grave concern and deep regret".

Both the spillage and the failure to apply safety procedures were due to "human error".

A takeover by an American corporation in 2001 had created a new culture and led to investment in health and safety - and a subsequent spill had proved new procedures were working.

"Historically, Sealine has had a confrontational relationship with the Health and Safety Executive but it now wants to work with them and tap into their expertise," Mr Litchfield added.

Magistrate Robert Steadman adjourned the case to crown court for sentencing on September 26.