Waste management company Suez has been fined after a member of staff received severe burns to his upper body and face, in an incident at its energy from waste facility in Billingham in 2014.
On Wednesday (7 June) the company was fined £220,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,695.65 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
In a statement Suez said it deeply regretted its failings and apologised to the member of staff involved. According to the company, the injured party has returned to work for Suez in the time since the incident.
The company explained that as a result of the incident the company has conducted a detailed investigation, review and radical overhaul of procedures to ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the future.
Statement
And, the Suez statement continued: “Following the incident, we have completely reviewed the maintenance process that was being undertaken at the time of the incident, across all of our Energy from Waste Facilities, in order to ensure that it can be done safely in future.”
The incident took place at Suez’s energy from waste facility in Billingham, near Stockton-on-Tees, in 2014.
“This has been accompanied by “tool box talks” with operational staff, to ensure they understand the new procedures and the introduction of new tools and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to assist in the maintenance task.”
Teesside Crown Court heard how the worker was injured on 17 October 2014 when he was seriously scalded by hot ash and water at the Billingham site of Suez near Stockton-on-Tees. The facility processes waste and turns it into energy by burning it.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), following a blockage on one of its lines the injured person had opened two hatches on a chute which takes the burnt waste away.
HSE
“He used a metal pole to dislodge the blockage. In doing so the waste dropped into a pit filled with water and a plume of hot ash and steam erupted from the hatches causing severe burns to his upper body and face as he turned to escape,” said the HSE.
An investigation by the HSE found the company failed to adequately consider the risk that workers were exposed to during this task. This meant the system of work they had was not sufficient to stop the incident happening.
It was also found the company failed to implement appropriate systems to manage and supervise this workplace activity. This meant the limited measures they had put in place were not followed.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Victoria Wise said: “Problems often occur in production and it is essential that companies recognise and understand them to prevent them happening or introduce engineering controls and systems of work that prevent people being injured.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
