Yorkshire Water fined £733,000 over worker suffering fatal burns
Yorkshire Water has been fined £733,000 after a fitter suffered fatal burns when his clothing was ignited by sparks at a treatment plant.
The incident occured in July 2015 when Michael Jennings was working in the bottom of a dry well on the end of the disused Lane 1 of the brewery Trade Waste treatment plant at the Tadcaster Sewage Treatment Works.
Jennings was attempting to change the stop valve on the end of the disused Lane 1 drain pipe which emerged into the bottom of the dry well.
The adjoining Lane 2 was still in service. The brewery Trade Waste plant was the only Yorkshire Water Services effluent treatment plant to use oxygen gas injection to assist the clean-up process.
Jennings was using an angle grinder to cut through corroded bolts when sparks from the grinding wheel impinged onto his overalls, bursting into flames. He suffered whole body burns and died in Pinderfields Hospital two days later.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the drain valve was half-opened and the atmosphere contained high oxygen levels, which increased the risk of fire.
The investigation also found that a near miss report had been recorded at the same location in September 2014.
The HSE investigation showed that the company’s risk assessment and permit to work procedures had been inadequate.
Yorkshire Water Services pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £733,000 and costs of £18,818.
John Micklethwaite, HSE inspector, said at the hearing: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement an adequate and effective safe system of work for work in a confined space.
“Those in control of work activities have a duty to identify hazards that could arise, to eliminate or to mitigate them, and to devise suitable safe systems of work. The risk assessment process is central to this role.
“The employer also has a duty to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to his workers, and to provide an appropriate level of supervision to ensure that the work can be carried out safely and without risks to health.”
