Bosses at TJ&S Jenkinson ignored 19 enforcement notices from the Health and Safety Executive over a four-year period.

The company, which makes cleaning products and is based on Sankey Valley Industrial Estate, admitting three offences at St Helens Magistrates Court last week.

They were fined £30,000 - the maximum sum available to JPs - and ordered to pay £24,527 in costs.

Had the company not issued an early guilty plea, HSE chiefs say the case have been taken to crown court where they would have faced far higher fines.

The charges relate to Jenkinson failing to properly control employees' exposure to hazardous substances, failing to maintain a forklift truck with steering problems, and failing to comply with an HSE improvement notices.

HSE Inspector Mark Burton said: "Jenkinson failed to provide safe systems of work and safe working equipment over a prolonged period, putting the health and safety of employees at risk.

"Enforcement notices should act as a wake-up call for companies to improve their health and safety procedures. Unfortunately, Jenkinson appears to have ignored the warnings and put production before safety.

"The company made no significant progress in improving health and safety standards, despite being served with Prohibition and Improvement Notices. The situation only started to get better after Jenkinson was invited to attend an interview under caution, and advised to take legal advice. The company then began to appreciate the seriousness of its failings.

"I hope this case will help to remind companies that the HSE will not accept repeated failings in health and safety. We will prosecute in instances where there is a potential for harm, rather than waiting for someone to be badly injured."