Employment Law News - £895,000 Fine for Firm after Fire and Explosion
News
A fine of £895,000 and costs of £218,854 were given to a company at Grimsby Crown Court after a breach of health and safety legislation resulted in a fire and explosion.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the companies Lincolnshire Refinery in April 2001 and it Pipeline Centre in Immingham in September 2001, revealed the breach.
The company pleaded guilty to seven breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations 1999.
170 tonnes of highly flammable LPG was released at the oil refinery which then ignited causing a massive explosion and fire. Other explosions occured due to failures of other pipework caused by the initial explosion.
The fire raged for approximately two-and-a-half hours before being bought under control. Fortunately there were were no serious injuries but considerable damage was caused to neighbouring premises and to off-site properties.
During the investigation of the first incident, a second incident occurred at the Pipeline Centre. Approximately 16 tonnes of LPG leaked overnight from a road tanker and although a liquid pool and gas cloud formed, no ignition occurred.
A spokesperson for the HSE's Chemical Industries Division, said: "This was possibly the most serious chemical incident in Britain since 1974 and it is fortunate that there were no deaths or very serious injuries. This was mainly because the incident occurred on a Bank Holiday and during a shift change when there were limited staff on site."
The spokesperson went on to say, "Our investigation revealed a failure by the company to check the pipework in certain parts of the refinery. It is vital that companies who operate high-hazard sites put rigid and robust systems in place for checking pipework to detect corrosion or other defects."
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