Staffordshire firm fined for explosive reaction after worker suffers burns

Date:

27 March 2013

Release No:

HSE/M/86/13

Aluminium powder reacted with water in an industrial vacuum cleaner to create hydrogen gas that exploded and burned a worker, a court has heard.

Staffordshire research and development company Renishaw PLC was today (27 March) prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its site on Whitebridge Way, Whitebridge Park, Stone, on 6 February 2012.

A 27 year-old employee suffered burns to the top of his body and was in hospital for two weeks. He was off work for three months before returning to work for the company.

Stafford Magistrates' Court heard the specialist vac had been used to clean up aluminium powder before being left to stand over a weekend. The powder reacted with water used in the machine to create hydrogen gas that exploded when the unassuming worker switched it on.

An HSE investigation found that had Renishaw undertaken a proper risk assessment it would have identified that a reaction could be caused by mixing metal powder with the water inside the cleaner.

Renishaw PLC, of New Mills, Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £6,397 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 5 (1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Wayne Owen said:

"This type of vacuum was not suitable for use with aluminium powder. Had the company paid attention to the instructions for working with this metal powder, or indeed the machine itself, then the incident could have been prevented.

"It must have been a very frightening experience for the worker, who suffered painful injuries.

"Aluminium powder mixed with water can create highly explosive gas and a suitable and sufficient risk assessment would have shown that they should not have been mixed."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related 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. Regulation 5(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 states: "Where a dangerous substance is or is liable to be present at the workplace, the employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to his employees which arise from that substance".

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