Shropshire Star

Telford explosion: Firm ordered to pay £20,000 over worker's injury

A drainage company in Telford has been told to pay nearly £20,000 after an explosion left one of its employees badly burned.

Published

Russell Hand, company director of A Hand Services Limited, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to discharge general health, safety and welfare duty to its employee at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.

The explosion at the company in Telford was caused by an error in repairing a leaking water tanker in June last year.

Appearing before District Judge David Goodman the company – a franchise of Dyno-Rod – was told it had not met the industry standard of providing health and safety for its employees, and ordered to pay a total of £19,951.58 – which includes a fine of £13,300.

Catherine Girvan, prosecuting, said: "The injured party, Patrick Farney, was a mechanic at the company since 2015. He was conducting a vehicle repair when an explosion occurred.

"He had previously been told by the director, Russell Hand, to remove the six covers on the tanker and use a wire brush and a sealant chemical.

"Mr Farney had only removed one cover and used an air grinder in the tank, before calling another employee to help him pour break and clutch fluid in the tank to clean it.

"He had not received any training on working at height or in confined spaces.

"Both Mr Farney and the other employee then went for lunch and upon returning, Mr Farney ignited a blow torch to dry and repair the area inside the tank which caused the explosion."

The court heard Mr Farney, who has been unemployed since the accident, suffered burns to his face, hands, forearms and left leg.

He was taken to hospital where he remained in critical care for three days and as a result has lost movement in his hands, and suffers from swelling and loss of stamina and dexterity.

"The argument is that he was told to use a wire brush and sealant chemical whereas he used break and clutch fluid and an air grinder, but the sealant chemical would have also been a flammable substance," added Miss Girvan.

"Mr Farney would normally use these items and he wasn't directly told not to use these things."

Instructions

Representing A Hands Services, Tom Gent, said: "Firstly we would like to say of course the company were concerned by the incident and upset by the extent of Mr Farney's injuries. He was a very well liked and respected employee.

"This was an unusual task and there in lies the problem with this incident.

"Russell spoke to Mr Farney and instructed him to use a wire brush and use a sealant fluid. He did not follow these instructions which resulted in him using a soldering torch which caused the explosion.

"It's accepted a more structured approach may have resulted in Mr Farney not repairing the tanker in the way he did and that more supervision could have stopped this from happening.

"The task was so out of the ordinary, inconsiderate thought was given to what was thought to be a simple job."

District Judge David Goodman, said: "The company did not fall far short of the industry standards, but did fall short in ensuring health and safety was ensured.

"The cause of this was Mr Farney not using the wire brush and sealant as instructed, but as a reasonable employer the company should have known that not all employees follow instructions fully.

"The lack of written safety procedures on this task contributed towards this incident.

"As a reasonable company, the sooner you can pay this fine, the sooner you can put this behind you."

The company has been given two years to pay the fine.

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