HSE warns employers about maintaining equipment after worker's face and arms are burned

WM/130/09 24 April 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure they maintain equipment after acetylene, leaking from a perished hose, caught fire and burned an employee while he was working beneath a vehicle.

HSE prosecuted A1 Rewinds Ltd of Brewery Street, Aston, Birmingham for its failure to maintain oxy-acetylene welding equipment in an efficient state, efficient working order and in good repair. The court heard that the equipment had not been maintained for 28 years.

A1 Rewinds was fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,500 by Birmingham Magistrates' Court (on 24th April, 2009) after the company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety legislation. 

HSE brought a charge against the company under Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 following its investigation into the incident that occurred, on 16th July 2008, at the company's premises.

An employee, Mr Harjit Singh Matharu, was lying beneath a vehicle, using an oxy-acetylene welding gun, when acetylene leaking from the perished hose caught light, burning the 43-year-old man's face and arms.

Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Pam Folsom said:

"The hoses were in an absolutely appalling state, totally perished and had been shortened each time that a bend split the hose allowing highly flammable gas to escape. The consequences of a gas cloud igniting beneath a vehicle, while a man is in the middle of that explosive mixture, are likely to be horrific.

''It is important for companies to ensure that they have fully considered all the risks their employees may face when using any equipment. The hoses were so obviously badly perished that there is no excuse for this incident."

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair ."
2. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance 'Safe Use of Work Equipment - Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998' ISBN 978-0-7176-6295-1 obtainable from HSE Books: http://books.hse.gov.uk/
3. Further information on risk assessments can be found on HSE's website at www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index/htm

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