Oil storage firm fined £100k after chemical explosion

The contractors cut into the pipe with a grinder, causing flammable gases within the pipe to ignite, resulting in the lid of the tank detaching due to pressure build up, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

An investigation launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found ESL was having difficulty with the waste oil recovery process that was foaming out of the vessel and filling its bund.

Rather than dealing with the issue, a decision was taken to connect the vessel to an emergency relief dump tank to collect further foaming, which created a flammable atmosphere within the dump tank and connecting relief pipework, HSE said.

While nobody was injured, HSE inspector Matthew Lea said the incident could have been prevented if the work of the contractors had been controlled.

Lea said: “The contractors were given a very basic induction and were not told about health and safety issues in relation to ESL Fuels Ltd being a COMAH major hazard site. Contractors were not warned about the process work being carried out in the North Blend Tank Farm and how it could impact on them.

“HSE has brought this prosecution because a failure took place that could have resulted in death or serious injury and we believe every person should be healthy and safe at work.”

ESL Fuels pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £17,000.