Informa Markets

Author Bio ▼

Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) is first for independent health and safety news.
September 29, 2015

Get the SHP newsletter

Daily health and safety news, job alerts and resources

Chemical firm modified reactor prior to explosion, court hears

A chemical firm has been ordered to pay £160,000 after a hydrogen explosion blew a vessel lid through a factory roof, leaving a worker with minor injuries. An inspector for the HSE said the consequences of the incident could easily have been fatal.

Catalloy Ltd was prosecuted by the HSE following the incident at its plant on Moss Bank Road in Widnes on 25 November 2011.

Warrington Crown Court heard that the company, which produces metal catalysts used by the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries, had made a modification to one of its reactors.

The explosion occurred on the first day of production following the modification and blew the lid and other equipment through the corrugated panels on the roof of the factory and into a neighbouring car park. A worker also suffered cuts to his hand and back.

The HSE investigation found the firm had fitted a new seal on the reactor to prevent air getting in, but had not properly considered the risks of the increased pressure inside the equipment during the production process.

Catalloy Ltd was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Mhairi Duffy said: “Catalloy deals with potentially dangerous substances every day and so it’s vital nothing is left to chance when it comes to the safety of its workers.

“The company should have carefully considered the risks of sealing the reactor but instead it continued with the production process and there was a major hydrogen explosion as a result.

“Luckily, only one worker suffered minor injuries in the blast but the consequences could easily have been fatal.”

The Safety Conversation Podcast: Listen now!

The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.

Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments