A Shrewsbury-based manufacturing company as been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after an empty 45-gallon steel drum which had contained flammable liquid caught fire and exploded while it was being cut in half.
An employee of the company, SPEL Products, reported the incident to HSE – and said the working method which caused the explosion had been practice at the firm for a significant period of time. The worker added that previous incidents had occurred.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the incident resulted in an immediate prohibition notice (PN) stopping the cutting of empty flammable liquid or vapour containers with metal cutting angle grinders.
At Shrewsbury Magistrates’ Court, SPEL Products of Lancaster Road in Shrewsbury pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 5(1), 6(1) and 9(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002, and was fined £13,666 and ordered to pay costs of £4,856.
Director of SPEL, Bryan Peacock – also of Lancaster Road in Shrewsbury –
was found guilty of breaching Regulation 6(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002. He was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £6,408 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector David Kivlin said:
“Carrying out this type of activity in this manner is a wellknown risk and there have been many incidents resulting in serious injury and death.”
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