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August 1, 2013

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Poorly-planned welding work sparked massive blaze

fire Three workers ran for cover from 20-feet flames after a fire was sparked during welding work on a gas main in Leeds, a court heard.

The huge blaze, on 3 September 2010, led to the evacuation of six houses, the closure of a major road and the cutting-off of gas supplies.

Leeds Crown Court heard that both Northern Gas Networks Operations Ltd (NGNO), known as United Utilities at the time of the incident, and Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) plc neglected basic safety measures when a new section of gas mains needed to be installed during a major construction project on the ring road, in Beeston.

Owing to the fire, the ring road was closed for two days and fire crews remained on the scene for more than ten hours. No one was injured in the incident.

Leeds Crown Court heard that NGNO, which maintains the gas-distribution system across the North of England, hired MSI to divert the gas mains on the ring road to allow changes to the road layout. MSI was supervising this work but had sub-contracted parts of the project to two other firms.

As part of the project to install the new section of gas mains, welding work had to be carried out on mains in an excavation. The mains had not been adequately isolated and sparks from the welding work ignited the escaping gas.

An HSE investigation into the incident found that the two sub-contractors were only competent in specific parts of the job and didn’t fully understand the overall work being carried out. Neither sub-contractor was prosecuted.

The court heard that both NGNO and MSI failed to effectively plan the work, or provide the safety controls under which the work could be done.

Both companies pleaded guilty to an offence under s3(1) of the HSWA 1974.

Northern Gas Networks Operations Ltd was fined £35,000 and ordered to pay £8453 in costs. Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) plc was fined £50,000 with £12,900 in costs.

HSE inspector Ian Redshaw said: “There were numerous failings by both companies in the planning, organisation and execution of the work — most importantly, the failure to consider and control the risks associated with welding near live gas mains.

“This type of activity is regularly undertaken in the gas industry and all the safety practices are well-established and common knowledge in the industry. Thankfully, incidents are rare, but if they do occur the consequences can be devastating.”

NGNO customer operations director Howard Forster said: “Immediately following the incident in Beeston, procedures were reviewed and additional measures were introduced for all Northern Gas Networks staff and contractors working on behalf of the company.

“In addition to a full internal investigation, Northern Gas Networks fully cooperated with the HSE in its investigation.”

A spokesperson for Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) said: “As a result of this incident, which happened almost three years ago, Morgan Sindall has reviewed and enhanced its procedures and will continue to ensure that it operates to the highest standards of health and safety across each of our working environments. Since the incident in 2010, Morgan Sindall has achieved an excellent safety record.”

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