04/08/2015
Oil giant Total UK Ltd were ordered to pay £1.4 million in fines and more than £30,000 in costs after a 24 year old contractor lost his life when hot crude oil “spurted out" and ignited, causing a serious fire in 2010.
Company Admitted Breach of Health & Safety Rules
Total UK admitted in the Hull Crown Court that they failed to eliminate the risks associated with the work that resulted in the accident. They also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH).
HSE Inspector, John Moran stated after the hearing, “This tragic incident should serve as a reminder to all such operators that if they fail to assess the risks associated with even simple and routine maintenance tasks, the consequences can be severe, and irreparable to the people involved and their families”.
An Unnecessary Loss of a Young Life
The deceased, Mr Greenacre, who was a contracted fitter, was working with a colleague beneath a distillation column containing hot crude oil. The job required them to open equipment beneath the column. When an item of equipment was opened, the crude oil was released. A short time later it ignited. Mr Greenacre’s colleague was able to escape the scene suffering minor burns; however, Mr Greenacre was struck by the initial release of crude oil and hydrocarbon vapour which overwhelmed his respiratory system, causing his death.
A Litany of Health and Safety Failures
The Court heard that operators of organisations that have a high risk of accidents occurring must:
- have in place a functioning system of risk assessment for all tasks where hazardous substances could be released
- eliminate risk by hazard avoidance, for example, performing dangerous tasks after hours
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