Pollution plume
23 Jul 2003
Proctor and Gamble Product Supply (UK) Limited has been fined a total £28,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,914.12 after a successful court prosecution by the Environment Agency, Anglian Region under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Proctor and Gamble Product Supply (UK) Limited operates a plant in West Thurrock which is a major supplier of a number of proprietary brand detergent products and light duty dishwashing liquids. As part of the detergent manufacturing process, sulphur is burned to create sulphur trioxide. This is then fed into Falling Film Reactors (FFRs), which are upright tanks that are used in a sulphonation process. Material from this process is then used as an ingredient in other separate processes at the site. The Environment Agency authorises this process through issuing authorisation permits.
The authorisation, however, is subject to an implied condition that operators are required to use the best available techniques for pollution control, so reducing the substances released to a minimum and rendering harmless the substances which are.
Proctor and Gamble pleaded guilty to failing to comply with this implied condition. The company also pleaded guilty to failing in its duty towards the employees of New Holland Logistics, a nearby distribution warehouse, in that they failed, so far as was reasonably practicable, to ensure that they were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
On the 28 March 2002, the Environment Agency were notified by Proctor and Gamble of an unauthorised release of mainly acid mist, but with traces of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and dilute sulphur trioxide (SO3) which lasted some 2-3 minutes.
Investigations by Environment Agency Officers revealed that the release had been caused by human error in the control room of the Falling Film Reactors (FFRs). This had the end result of releasing approximately 30kg of SO3 into the atmosphere.
The New Holland Logistics employees observed the plume and investigated the source believing it to be a possible fire. Four employees suffered health effects from the SO3 release such as eye and throat irritation and tightness to the chest. All employees attended the local Accident and Emergency department and underwent a full examination including x-ray.
Paul Hayward of the Environment Agency, said that: 'Had the necessary procedures and software been in place, the environment and health of four individuals would not have been put at risk. It is vital that businesses are alert and vigilant when their operations could have a harmful effect on our environment.'
