Firm fined after worker burned in gas pipe fire

A demolition firm has been fined £10,000 by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for safety failing after an employee suffered serious burns when a gas pipe ignited in his face.

The employee, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was carrying out demolition work at a warehouse in Burton-on-Trent when he cut into a metal gas pipe that ignited in his face. He received serious burns to his face and forearms.

He was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to the burns unit at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was treated over two days.

HSE investigation revealed that the incident could have been prevented if his employers had undertaken basic checks to ensure the pipe was safe. It was found that the employee was using an angle grinder to remove hardware from a mezzanine area when he cut into a metal gas pipe, unaware it was still live. It then ignited sending flames into his face and forearms.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Alastair Choudhury said:

"Injuries to workers in the demolition industry are all too common.

"Demolition activities need to be planned, supervised and monitored rigorously. However, Birstall Demolition and Plant Services Ltd failed to perform the simplest of checks to protect their employee by not making sure that the pipes were safe.

"This employee suffered serious burns, which would have been worse if he had not been wearing goggles and safety gloves. For a lengthy amount of time after the incident, he was not able to return to work. However he is now working again, for a different employer, still bearing the scars from his ordeal.

"This incident could easily have resulted in even more serious injuries; in fact he could have died."

The injuries suffered by the injured employee could have been prevented had his employers planned and implemented safety checks before such work was undertaken.

If you or a member of your family has been involved in an accident which has resulted in you sustaining injury and would like a free and confidential discussion with one of our specialised Solicitors, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 389 1978 or visit our website at www.forsterdean.co.uk. You can also follow us on Twitter (@ForsterDeanLtd) and find Forster Dean Solicitors on Facebook

Mofozzul Hussain LLB (Hons)

Office Manager (Birkenhead) and Personal Injury Solicitor