Calor Gas fined over LPG release

Date:

7 May 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-04

Calor Gas Ltd was today fined £27,500, after a major gas leak led to a cloud of highly flammable Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) forming above its terminal in Essex.

The firm admitted breaching health and safety regulations at the major hazard site when release of up 163 tonnes of LPG leaked into the atmosphere at the Calor Gas terminal on Canvey Island.

Calor Gas Ltd of Tachbrook Park in Warwick, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court and was also ordered to pay £27,185 costs.

The leak happened while a ship was unloading gas to the site early on 27 October 2008. The gas, which is stored in a liquid form, escaped from a pipe when an over-pressure safety device operated. The liquid evaporated on contact with the ground, forming a vapour cloud above the site.

LPG quickly forms an extremely flammable and explosive vapour when released into the atmosphere. In its vapour form, LPG can have a volume of up to 250 times that of its liquid form and can cause asphyxiation. If ignited, it can result in a serious explosion and fire.

Due to the large quantities of LPG stored at the site, the site is subject to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999.

A sensor, which is designed to detect leaks of LPG, raise the alarm and shut the emergency valves, failed to operate - allowing the release to continue unchecked.

Even when an employee eventually discovered the leak, no site emergency alarms were sounded. The company also failed to report the incident to HSE forthwith.

HSE's investigation into the incident found that Calor Gas Ltd had failed to provide effective measures to prevent the leak, and had failed to respond properly to the emergency when the incident occurred - including reporting to the HSE in good time.

HSE Inspector John Hawkins said:

"This site is specifically designated as a major hazard site, and that means that the correct management of risk is absolutely essential.

The leak could have been minimised had the sensor operated as intended. It was fortunate that the incident did not escalate further, since no emergency alarm sounded.

This case illustrates how important it is for companies to maintain effective measures to control risks from LPG. It is vital that LPG sensors are effectively maintained and in working order, and that there is an appropriate emergency response in place at all times."

Peter Hornsby, HSE Head of Chemical Industries, Eastern Region, added:

"As was said in court, this could have had the potential of becoming a catastrophic event. HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies who fail to provide security to their staff and the public through neglecting health and safety procedures."

Calor Gas Ltd admitted breaching Regulation 4 of Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999 and Regulation 3(1) (e) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 4 of COMAH Regulations 1999 states: "Every operator shall take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences to persons and the environment."
2. Regulation 3(1)(e) RIDDOR 1995 states: "Where there is a dangerous occurrence, the responsible person shall -
   1. forthwith notify the relevant enforcing authority thereof by the quickest practicable means; and
   2. within 10 days send a report thereof to the relevant enforcing authority on a form approved for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, unless within that period he makes a report thereof to the Executive by some other means approved."
3. Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/ for more information on COMAH Regulations.
4. Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/ for more information on RIDDOR Regulations.

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR East.