Chemicals firm fined after blast

A CHEMICAL firm has been fined after a hydrogen explosion blew a vessel lid through a factory roof.

Health and safety investigators said the consequences of the blast at Catalloy on Moss Bank Road, Widnes, in November 2011 “could easily have been fatal.”

Warrington Crown Court heard that the company, which produces metal catalysts used by the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries, had made a modification to one of its reactors.

The explosion occurred on the first day of production following the modification and blew the lid and other equipment through the corrugated panels on the roof of the factory and into a neighbouring car park. An employee suffered cuts to his hand and back as a consequence.

The Health and Safety Executive found the firm had fitted a new seal on the reactor to prevent air getting in, but had not properly considered the risks of the increased pressure inside the equipment during the production process.

Catalloy Ltd was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers.

HSE Inspector Mhairi Duffy said: “Catalloy deals with potentially dangerous substances every day and so it’s vital nothing is left to chance when it comes to the safety of its workers. The company should have carefully considered the risks of sealing the reactor but instead it continued with the production process and there was a major hydrogen explosion as a result.

“Luckily, only one worker suffered minor injuries in the blast but the consequences could easily have been fatal.”