Personal Injury Solicitors

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully prosecuted a carpet company and an engineering inspection company, after workers at the carpet factory narrowly missed being injured when a piece of equipment exploded.

Brintons Carpets Ltd of Kidderminster in Worcestershire uses pressurised vessels for dying carpets.

On 4 June 2013, the lid of the high-pressure vessel exploded at Brintons’ site in Telford in Shropshire, sending a lid weighing approximately 250kg six metres into the air.

The lid landed just a few feet away from where a worker was standing.

An HSE investigation found that, although no one was injured in the incident, it could have been prevented.

HSE inspectors found that when the vessel exploded during a production run, the lid was torn off its locking mechanism and hinges – and subsequently hit the factory roof six metres above, leaving a dent in one of the factory’s roof girders.

The explosion was found to have been caused by a failure of the vessel’s regulator and pressure relief valve.

The vessels used by Brintons Carpets are serviced by Allianz Engineering Inspection Services Ltd – the firm was contracted to carry out periodic thorough examinations on the four high-pressure dye vessels used by the carpet manufacturer.

The HSE found Brintons Carpets Ltd had not ensured that suitable and sufficient maintenance of the vessel’s safety devices was being carried out – and the periodic examinations as required by law had not been completed for three years.

A Written Scheme of Examination was in place at Brintons Carpets Ltd, which included the stock dye vessels in question.

Although Allianz Engineering Services Ltd were carrying out periodic thorough examinations on the other pressure equipment on site, the four stock dye vats had been overlooked for a number of years.

Allianz Engineering Services Ltd had therefore failed to carry out the required examinations on the vats properly, the HSE investigation found.

On 10 September at Telford Magistrates’ Court, Brintons Carpets Ltd of Stourport Road in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 12 of The Pressures Systems Safety Regulations 2000. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,174 in costs.

Allianz Inspection Services Ltd of Ladymead in Guildford, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(2) of The Pressures Systems Safety Regulations 2000. The company was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay £1,111 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Lyn Mizen said:

“If a piece of pressure equipment fails and bursts violently apart, the results can be devastating to people in the vicinity.

“It was a matter of pure luck that no one was seriously injured in this incident.

“There are clear standards set out in the regulations and strict inspection regimes, whereby the user has a duty to ensure that equipment and its safety devices are properly maintained.

“This is backed up by the periodic thorough examinations by competent persons to ensure this is happening – and is appropriate and suitable.

“Sadly, in this case the user of the pressure system and their competent person both failed in their duties.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Industrial Accident Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise on how to make no win no fee Industrial Accident Claims for injuries sustained as a result of employer negligence or the negligent actions of another party.

Personal injury claimants have three years from the date of injury in which to make a claim for industrial injuries – and Duncan Lewis can also advise on making no win no fee Industrial Disease Claims, including Mesothelioma & Asbestos Claims and Poisoning Claims.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Industrial Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.