Companies fined after 500kg load crashes onto worker at Shell refinery
11 Jan 2010
London – Three companies have been fined a total of £283,332 at Warrington Crown Court on 4 Jan after a man was paralysed from the waist down while working at a Shell oil refinery in Cheshire. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Shell UK Oil Products Ltd, Dalprop Ltd (formerly S.G. Blair and Co. Ltd) and Hertel UK Ltd over the incident at the Stanlow manufacturing complex near Ellesmere Port.
The case related to an incident on 9 Feb 2007 when Stephen Rizzotti was working for S.G. Blair and Co. (now Dalprop Ltd) on a refurbishment project at the plant. The company was removing part of the concrete lining of the ‘cracker’ unit, where crude oil is turned into various chemical components.
Rizzotti, who is a father of three, suffered a broken back, two broken legs, a broken pelvis and other injuries when a container carrying 500kg of waste materials fell 30 feet on top of him. The court heard that the incident was caused by the materials being suspended above a walkway.
“This incident was totally avoidable and has had a devastating impact on Mr Rizzotti and his family,” said HSE Inspector Alan Graham. “The scaffolding should have been constructed so that the lifting equipment was away from areas where people had to walk. The landing area should also have been suitably protected.
“This case clearly demonstrates why it’s so important for companies to put the safety of their employees first.”
Rizzotti, who joined SG Blair as a labourer in 1991 and had progressed to human resources manager, said: “I can’t remember anything about what happened. Half a dozen people had gone into the building before me but then, as I went in, the waste materials fell on top of me. It was touch and go at first but thanks to the doctors I survived. Now I have to get on with my life in a wheelchair. I have a simple message for all companies - safety has to be paramount.”
Shell UK Oil Products and Dalprop pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Shell was fined £116,666 and ordered to pay costs of £16,204, and Dalprop was fined £83,333 with costs of £11,115.
Hertel UK installed the scaffolding and platforms used for the project, including the boards around the lifting equipment, which became dislodged causing the container to fall. The company pleaded guilty to contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £83,333 and ordered to pay costs of £16,204.
