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.”
Man fined after failing to maintain alarm system in care home
A man has been prosecuted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 after failing to maintain a fire alarm system in a care home where an elderly resident died after a fire broke out at the property.
Mr Morris was responsible for ensuring the alarm system was in good working order at Oldfield Bank care home but failed to inform the owners of the home that the system was not working properly.
An investigation after the blaze found that the outdated alarm system had been poorly maintained. It had a blown fuse which had been over ridden with a piece of wire. The fault warning function was also not working. The system was not fit for purpose despite Mr Morris issuing several annual certificates confirming that the system was in working order.
Christopher Morris who is a former firefighter, pleaded guilty and was fined £2,500 for each offence and ordered to pay £6,000 in costs.
Huge fines for safety breach firms
Two companies and a manager have been fined for failing to meet fire safety regulations which lead to the death of an employee. Mark Wright suffered 90% burns when an aerosol he had been instructed to dispose of exploded.
Deeside Metal Company was fined £100,000 and £10,000 in costs, Jeyes UK Ltd was fined £330,000 and £50,000 in costs. The manager of Deeside Metal Company Ltd, Robert Roberts who instructed Mr Wright to dispose of the canisters in a metal baler was also fined £10,000.
All parties pleaded guilty to the charges at Caernarfon Crown Court.