Gas vapour build up explodes severely burning a worker

A company has been fined following an accident in which a man suffered severe injures at work.

Repair Protection and Maintenance Limited, (RPM) which provides anti-corrosion solutions to industry, was fined £3,250 and ordered to pay costs of £2,656 at Selby Magistrates Court.

It follows the workplace accident in July 2008 when a build up of gas vapours from a liquid petroleum gas heater caused an explosion. An employee was blow off his feet in the incident, suffering a fractured skull and severe burns to his arms and legs. The mans accident at work has resulted in him losing most of his sense of taste and his hearing has been impaired.

RPM was prosecuted by the HSE for breaches of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999.

HSE Inspector Jacqueline Ferguson said after the hearing: “Even though the gas heater was not running, RPM’s failure to carry out a risk assessment and pre-entry testing for toxic or flammable vapours in the tanker was unacceptable. If procedures had been followed correctly this incident would have been avoided.”