In-court
£40k fine following gas cylinder explosion
A beverage gas supply company has been fined after a gas cylinder exploded and left a worker with life-changing leg injuries.
Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard how the employee of J & R Gases Limited was filling mixed-gas cylinders, to be used for dispensing drinks in restaurants and pubs, by connecting the cylinders to a high-pressure filling system. During this process, one of the cylinders the employee was standing near exploded.
According to the HSE’s investigation, the work was not properly planned and there was a lack of thorough pre-fill checks of the cylinders. The injured worker had not received adequate training or instruction as to how to undertake robust pre-fill cylinder checks.
J & R Gases Limited, operating from Riverside Works, Brunswick Street, Nelson, was found guilty breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £5,932 in costs.
Pre-fill checks
Speaking after the trial, Health and Safety Executive inspector Steven Boyd said: “Robust pre-fill checks of high pressure cylinders should be undertaken before they are filled and workers must be informed of this.
“The injured worker should have received adequate training, instruction and supervision to be able to carry out their work safely but the company failed to fully do this. As a result of the company’s failings, a person has been left with life-changing injuries.”
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£40k fine following gas cylinder explosion
Worker left with life-changing leg injuries.
Alison Fava
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Pre-fill checks, I’d like to know what the HSE propose would be enough. The history of Carbon Dioxide cylinders failing is well known in the drinks industry, any moisture from simply leaving a valve open to an unreported ‘suck-back’ incident will lead to the formation of Carbonic Acid. Industry tests have shown catastrophic failure can occur within days of filling such contaminated cylinders and the formation of Carbonic Acid. Looking at the companies on-line presence doesn’t inspire confidence, un-fenced VIE’s without even vehicle collision prevention barriers would suggest a need for a full review of their operational RAMS is needed,… Read more »
So has anybody got a suggestion other than isolating the cylinder to be refilled in some form of containment. Internal corrosion in gas cylinders is impossible to detect prior to refilling, re fillers have to rely on the robustness of the testing regime. A visual check can be carried out but this gives no indication of the internal condition. I once witnessed a 3 ltr scuba diving air cylinder exploding during a re fill, the cylinder was only 18 months old, it appeared in new condition. Its first internal inspection was due at 2 1/2 years. Inside the cylinders was… Read more »