A CHEMICAL works has been ordered to improve its safety procedures after a series of nspections by health officials.

William Blythe Ltd, which has sites in Church and Hapton, will be served with a number of 'improvement notices' for its chemical manufacturing processes because of safety fears.

The Health and Safety Executive is obligated to visit the company regularly because of the type of chemicals it makes, but it said the latest inspections followed several minor incidents .

Managing director Geoff Bull said the company was responding to the HSE's advice and it was comm-itted to health and safety.

He said: "There are currently a number of processes in need of improvement and as such they (the HSE) have issued improvement notices and we are responding to this.

"As part of our responsible care prog-ramme this company is committed to the on-site health and safety of our employees, the environ-ment and our off-site responsibilities to the local community."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "We have been providing advice to William Blythe following a number of health and safety concerns.

"This liaison, which is ongoing, aims to ensure the company meets all the necessary health and safety legislation."

The company, which employs 170 and owned by UK chemical giant Yule Catto, is struggling against "difficult trading conditions" and the HSE's requirements will add to costs. But Mr Bull said if the safety of any process was threatened by a lack of funds the company would close the process.

Mr Bull said the company would battle against tough market conditions by focusing more on exports.

A mutli-million pound investment at its Church site is due to begin in 2006, followed by the closure of the site in Hapton. Mr Bull would not say if this would lead to job losses.

The Church site manufactures metal salts based on arsenic, copper, tin and zinc, while its Hapton factory, makes sulphur products.

The products are used in a wide range of industrial applications.