A utilities firm and a construction company have been sentenced after two workers were injured when a ruptured gas main ignited in Whitstable, Kent.
A team of Southern Gas Network (SGN) engineers were called to the Estuary View Business Park on 27 May 2016 to repair a leaking gas main. The gas caught alight at around 10pm, resulting in an explosion and fire.
Gary Norris was badly burned on his face, arms and legs and Adrian Hennigan sustained cuts and bruises. The cause of the ignition remains unknown.
The pipe had been damaged by employees of Cliffe Contractors during the construction of new shops. According to the HSE, Cliffe Contractors had not followed safe digging techniques during excavation.
It was also found that SGN had failed to follow its own procedures or recognised safe systems of work during the repairs. Folkstone Magistrates’ Court was told that Norris had not been wearing adequate protective clothing.
The HSE, told the hearing: “Mr Norris was working 2 m from the source of the leak when the gas ignited, and it set alight. That was too close, and it allowed little room for error should there have been a change, as there was, in conditions.”
SGN pleaded guilty to breaching s 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Judge fined the company £1.2m and ordered it to pay £18,975 costs. He also fined Cliffe Contractors £60,000 and imposed costs of £12,689 after it pleaded guilty to breaching s 2(1) and 3(1) of the same act.
After the hearing, HSE principal specialist inspector Martin Wayland said: “This incident, in which a worker could have easily been killed, could have been avoided if safe excavation by Cliffe Contractors had been carried out and safe mains repair policies had been followed by SGN. “Both companies were aware of the precautions that were required to be taken.”
