Company fined over £20,000 for safety breaches after man seriously injured in fire

A 24 year old man suffered serious burns from a flash fire after opening an industrial oven door at a factory unit in Tamworth in March 2010.

The man who worked at Environ-Strip (UK) had to be put in an induced coma. He suffered acute burns to his face, arms, neck and left hand when his body was engulfed in the flames.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that a safety device that prevents the oven door from opening if the temperature is in excess of 260 degrees had been ‘deliberately bypassed’.

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay over £6,000 in costs after Burton-on-Trent Magistrates Court found them guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 5(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

Gail Pannell from HSE said: “This was a very serious, entirely preventable incident that could easily have been fatal and left a man on a life support machine. He is extremely lucky to have recovered from his injuries. When working with potentially dangerous substances at high temperatures, companies must carry out proper risk assessments and set up a safe system of work. This includes checking that safety devices are fit for purpose and suitably maintained.”