A north-east England chemicals company was fined £800,000 after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in an explosion. The explosion, which occurred on 4 August 2020 also caused significant damage to the building. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified that the company failed to put sufficient measures in place to control the risk. This included a failure to use a correctly working extraction system to remove the flammable vapours and effective electrical earthing of the bulk bag to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge that led to the static spark discharging.
A multi-national paint company has been fined £650,000 and ordered to pay costs of £144,992 following the discharge of hazardous waste from a tank located at a decommissioned paint testing facility on a Devon estuary. Sediment samples taken in 2015 from the estuary and from the tank by the Environment Agency were found to contain tributyltin (TBT), a chemical originally used for anti-fouling of ships but banned since the 1980s, along with other heavy metals. Charges brought were (1) the failure to meet a discharge consent and (2) the release of a controlled waste.
A north-west wine and drinks supplier has been fined £800,000 after a HGV driver was killed by a forklift truck at its depot. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the vehicle loading risk assessment was out of date and not fit for purpose and there was no pedestrian and vehicle segregation in place in the loading area. Visiting drivers were not given clear information about site safety.
A Southampton care home provider was fined £400,000 after a falling lime tree crushed a child who was running on a pavement outside the entrance to the home. It was subsequently found that the tree was diseased with a common fungus and had likely been rotting for several years prior to the accident. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, over a number of years, the company had failed to have in place a strategy to manage trees.