£40k fine following gas cylinder explosion. A beverage gas supply company has been fined after a gas cylinder exploded and left a worker with life-changing leg injuries.
Blackpool Magistrates’ Court heard how the employee of J & R Gases Limited was filling mixed-gas cylinders, to be used for dispensing drinks in restaurants and pubs, by connecting the cylinders to a high-pressure filling system. During this process, one of the cylinders the employee was standing near exploded.
According to the HSE’s investigation, the work was not properly planned and there was a lack of thorough pre-fill checks of the cylinders. The injured worker had not received adequate training or instruction as to how to undertake robust pre-fill cylinder checks.
J & R Gases Limited, operating from Riverside Works, Brunswick Street, Nelson, was found guilty breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £5,932 in costs.
After the case the HSE commented that the injured worker should have received adequate training, instruction and supervision to be able to carry out their work safely but the company failed to fully do this. As a result of the company’s failings, a person has been left with life-changing injuries.
