Burton brewery fined after three men burned by caustic soda

Date:

4 August 2011

Release No:

WM484/11

A Burton-on-Trent brewery has been fined after three men suffered serious chemical burns when 6,000 litres of caustic soda erupted from a faulty valve.

The three sub-contractors from a specialist engineering company were undertaking maintenance work at Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Ltd's Station Street site.

They were drenched in a liquid jet of caustic soda when repairing a valve on a line running from a detergent tank on 30 June 2008. Up to 6,000 litres of the chemical spilled out from the container.

Martin Soanes, 53, was temporarily blinded and one of his colleagues, who has asked not to be identified, suffered 25 per cent burns, which have left him with scars and continuing sensitivity, making it difficult for him to tolerate heat. The third man suffered minor skin burns and irritation to his eyes.

Cannock Magistrates' Court heard the men had not been given adequate instructions or appropriate personal protective equipment. Although they were given visors, the overalls provided by the company were made from cloth, and the caustic fluid soaked through these.

Molson Coors, of High Street, Burton-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £43,674 costs.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Lyn Spooner said:

"This was a preventable incident, which caused unpleasant injuries to three men. It is fortunate that the caustic soda was dilute, otherwise they would have been much more seriously hurt.

"All companies must manage contractors properly and make sure that they are following health and safety procedures.

"They must also carry out proper risk assessments for any work that contractors are required to carry out.

"Molson Coors failed to do this, and three people have been injured as a result."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands