HSE/NW/063/07 7 June 2007

HSE warning after Colne company fined £4,000 following explosion in which employees receive burns

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned businesses of the danger of using unsuitable premises by employees. The warning comes after an explosion in a shipping container being used as a tearoom, which resulted in employees David Fretwell and Martin Wild receiving burns.

J D Macadam and Son (Garages) Ltd of Hyde Park garage, North Valley Road, Colne Lancashire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £3,372.15 costs at Reedley Magistrates Court.

HSE Inspector Sheldon Taylor said, "These two men were burnt in an explosion because the company had failed to take all reasonable measures to ensure their safety. The consequences of this incident could have been far worse. This case graphically illustrates that companies must ensure that they take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees.

"The shipping container should have been modified before its use. The container was being heated with an LPG heater, which requires low level ventilation to allow escaping LPG to disperse, but the container only had high level ventilation which was wholly unsuitable. .

"The LPG heater was fitted with a flame failure device which will only allow gas to be used while there is a flame, however, the heater had been modified, causing the flame failure device not to work, allowing the LPG to escape when there was no flame."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 stated that:
   "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees"

1. For further information on the Health and safety at Work etc. Act 1974 go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm
2. LPG is heavier than air. This means that any LPG which escapes from a heater will settle at low level. Low Level ventilation would have allowed the LPG to disperse.

For further information:

Clive Naish, Regional Information Officer,
Tel: 0161 952 4517

Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West.