Cemex fined after man killed in explosion

Date:

17 October 2011

Release No:

WM516/11

A multinational cement firm has been fined £200,000 following the death of a worker in an explosion at its Rugby premises.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted CEMEX UK Operations Ltd, which makes cement and building products for the construction industry, after the death of 28-year-old Peter Reynolds, of Rugby, on 15 January 2008.

The force of the explosion was so great that it blew Mr Reynolds out through the side of the building onto the road ten metres below. An ambulance crew attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Peter Reynolds with daughter Kayleigh on his wedding day

Leamington Spa Crown Court heard the married man, whose daughter Kayleigh was 18 months old at the time of his death, was treating waste cement dust in the bypass dust plant at the company's Rugby Cement Works in Lawford Road.

While he was clearing a blockage in the lower mixer, there was a violent explosion of steam and dust from inside the machine.

HSE's investigation into the incident found that CEMEX had recognised the potential for blockages to cause explosions as steam pressure built up within the mixer, but took no action to prevent them.

The court also heard the company had failed to review its risk assessment following a previous incident in May 2006, when another man was injured using the same machine. This explosion bent a metal-cladded external wall, pushing it out by 50cm.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Neil Craig said:

"This was an entirely avoidable tragedy, which has left a young family without a husband and a father. If CEMEX had investigated the previous incident properly, Mr Reynolds would still be alive today.

"CEMEX's protection against the build up of pressure was for the plant to be continuously vented when processing waste cement dust, but it frequently blocked. These blockages then caused steam to build up to a high pressure.

"The company could have made a number of changes to the mixer to reduce the flow of dust and improve the venting and cooling systems, or devised a new system of work. However, no action was taken and employees were expected to operate this dangerous piece of machinery.

"Employers must make sure that they take proper precautions to protect their workers, especially when there is the potential for explosion."

Jane Reynolds, Peter's mother, said:

"Peter was a wonderful son, husband, father, brother and uncle. His early tragic death has left a hole in our lives that will never be filled.

"The loss we have suffered cannot be measured by money, but we hope today's fine makes those at the top of CEMEX and other firms think about the safety of their workers. After all, they are the ones who get hurt and killed when it all goes wrong."

CEMEX Operations UK Ltd, of Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £172,000 costs.

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 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "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."

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