£1.4m fine after death in Immingham refinery fire
TOTAL UK has been fined £1.4m after a major fire led to the death of a worker at an oil refinery in Immingham.
Robert Greenacre, a 24 year-old from Grimsby, was working near a crude oil distillation unit just before the fire broke out at the Lindsey Oil Refinery (TLOR) in June 2010.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the oil giant after an investigation found a fire was caused by an uncontrolled release of crude oil.
Total UK pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) and was fined £1.4m and ordered to pay costs of £34,084.05.
Hull Crown Court heard yesterday that 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, Robert did not escape and died beneath the column.
The court also heard operators of major accident hazard establishments must have in place a functioning system of risk assessment for all tasks where hazardous substances could be released.
HSE Inspector John Moran said: “If Total had followed well established principles of risk assessment this major fire and the subsequent fatal injury to Robert Greenacre could have been easily prevented.
“Although the accident arose from a simple task, the magnitude of the risk was great. The risk should have been identified before the task started, and action taken to either eliminate or control it. This did not happen.
“Total UK Limited as operator in control of a major accident hazard establishment fell far short of the standard required of them.
“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”
