Firm fined £1 million after major gas leak at refinery
A major gas leak released around 2,400kg of highly flammable liquefied petroleum gas after a large steel tower partially collapsed at an oil refinery.
The partial collapse resulted in ruptured pipework, with nearby workers being exposed to the risk of serious injury from falling debris and potential burns.
The firm has been fined £1 million after HSE's investigation found the collapse was caused by long-standing corrosion of the tower that had been identified years earlier but not properly addressed.
Read more about the incident in our press release: £1 million fine issued after major gas leak at refinery.
Two firms fined after worker fractures neck during platform collapse
A worker suffered serious injuries including fractures to his neck and back after a temporary wooden platform collapsed during refurbishment work.
HSE’s investigation into the incident found that:
- there was no calculation to determine safe loading limits for the temporary platforms
- inspections were inadequate and not carried out by a competent person
- platforms were allowed to become overloaded with debris without effective monitoring
Two construction companies were fined a total of £37,881, with additional costs bringing the total payable to £48,977.
Read more about the incident in our press release: Two firms fined after worker fractures neck during platform collapse.
Leisure firm fined after death of footballer electrocuted by floodlight
A man was electrocuted after coming into contact with a floodlight while retrieving a football at a leisure centre.
He had been playing on an all-weather pitch when the ball went out of play. As he climbed a fence to collect it, he touched a floodlight and received a fatal electric shock.
HSE’s investigation found the incident was caused by worn and faulty wiring that had not been properly inspected or maintained over several years. The company had also failed to act on a previous incident just weeks earlier, when another individual received an electric shock from the same equipment.
The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £40,000 in costs.
Read more about the incident in our press release: Leisure firm fined after death of footballer electrocuted by floodlight.
More headlines
Other recent health and safety headlines include:
|
