Prosecutions round up

摘要

In our latest round-up of notable prosecutions, we look at five cases that resulted in fines ranging from ￡530,000 to ￡133,000. The incidents occurred in an oil refinery, a hydro-electric dam, a foundry and in brick and articulated trailer manufacturing premises. The prosecutions stemmed from a pipe leak, work in a confined space, lifting operations, machinery entanglement, contaminated slag containers, and a fall from a step ladder. As diverse as the industries and the work processes are, the failures are basic and include inadequate risk assessments and control measures, inspection and maintenance shortcomings, and a lack of training, instruction and supervision. Four of the cases resulted in serious injuries, although all five had the potential to end with fatalities. Our first prosecution resulted in a ￡500,000 fine and ￡34,103 costs for Esso Petroleum Company following an uncontrolled release of 15 tonnes of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) from its oil refinery in Fawley, Hampshire. The refinery is the largest in the UK. The HSE brought the prosecution "to highlight the importance of maintaining the layers of protection and preventing this kind of major leak".