Washing up war: Fairy Liquid is banned from Scottish tax office as 'non-approved' chemical

A WASHING-up war erupted in a Scottish tax office after bosses banned Fairy Liquid from the premises.

Health and safety jobsworths at the HMRC have placed Fairy on a list of “non-approved chemicals”.

Bosses are demanding staff only use the UK Government department’s official supplier – Brillo washing up liquid.

But workers at HMRC’s East Kilbride office ignored the bizarre bubble ban and smuggled in their favourite brand.

The illicit detergent was soon spotted by eagle-eyed cleaners, who spilled the dirt on their Fairy Liquid loving colleagues.

Now, senior management are demanding staff get rid of the unauthorised cleaning fluids.

An email from Fiona McGregor of the “governance and security team” sent a stark message that illegal dishwashing would not be tolerated.

She wrote: “I have received feedback that when checking tea points staff identified some with non approved chemicals.

“The control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002 requires employers to control exposure to potentially hazardous substances.

“Therefore any chemicals brought on to site require to be assessed.

“These include products such as household washing up liquid and cleaning sprays etc.

“All that should be at the tea points should be ISS approved and supplied chemicals – Brillo washing up liquid.”

McGregor demanded all sinks were checked to ensure only Brillo’s product is used.

She added: “At some point in the next few weeks a check will be made on all tea points and any non approved chemicals removed.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw last night said the Fairy Liquid fight was “health and safety gone mad”.

He said: “To think any organisation would spend so much time fretting about Fairy Liquid is incredible.

“There are bigger things to worry about, and as a society we really need to make a concerted effort to ensure this increasingly bizarre culture is nipped in the bud.”

But a senior manager at the Queensway House office, which employs around 1800 people, defended the ban.

Lynn Fulton said: “We take health and safety seriously and as part of our duties work to ensure that only known chemicals are used in our office.

“Substances can cause allergy or sensitivity problems for our staff and we seek to minimise these by using only identified and approved chemicals.”