Two companies have been fined a total of GB pound 85,000 for “numerous failings” that led to a massive gas-main fire in 2010.
The massive blaze happened in Leeds on 3 September 2010, causing the closure of a major road in the city and the evacuation of six homes. Fortunately, no one was hurt when sparks from welding work on a new section of gas main ignited the fire.
The gas supply had not been properly isolated, and as workers fled the scene flames were sent up to 20 feet into the air.
Northern Gas Networks Operations Ltd. and Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) plc neglected basic safety measures, according to the Health and Safety Executive, who investigated the incident. NGNO hired MSI to divert the gas mains on a ring road that was due to have major layout works undertaken. MSI in turn sub-contracted elements of the work out to two other firms, the court heard.
The sub-contractors were only competent in specific parts of the job, according to the HSE, and did not understand the full scope of the works. Investigators said that NGNO and MSI did not plan the work or safety controls sufficiently.
HSE Inspector, Ian Redshaw, said:
Someone could have been killed or badly injured in this incident. Thankfully no one was hurt, but this was a severe fire that was a danger to workers and local people.
There were numerous failings by both companies in the planning, organisation and execution of the work – most importantly the failure to consider and control the risks associated with welding near live gas mains.
When undertaking high hazard activities such as this, it is essential that the proper steps are taken to ensure that risks are fully considered and then controlled.
This type of activity is regularly undertaken in the gas industry and all the safety practices are well established and common knowledge in the industry. Thankfully incidents are rare, but if they do occur the consequences can be devastating.
Both companies pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states that employers have a duty to ensure that those not under their employment are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. The potential for this incident to cause great harm to nearby residents and the workers involved was significant enough to result in large fines.
NGNO was fined GB pound 35,000 plus costs of GB pound 8,453, while MSI, which supervised the works, was fined GB pound 50,000 plus GB pound 12,900 in costs.
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They are lucky it was only a matter of fines. “sparks from welding work on a new section of gas main ignited the fire.” That’s beyond negligent and I’m surprised that anyone working that close to a gas pipeline would even start a job like that. I guess this is what happens when people are put on tight deadlines or not given all the information they need. I wonder if the pipe fitters knew there was an active gas line so close to where they were working.
could not agree more… in Canada we have similar problems but case is still in the court… safety should be priority for this Co.. not a dead line…
When you’re working on utilities I know the push is there to get everything back up and working in a very short time frame but just like you wouldn’t be pulling live cable between poles you shouldn’t be putting a torch to an active gas main. The damage done probably set them back farther than shutting down the line and pumping an inert gas into it.
yes, but the problem this days everyone worried about dead line, overlooking safety…
If they did, they certainly wouldn’t have had welding equipment out, that’s for sure. The negligence appears to have been on the contractors, raher than individual workers, so the planning was at fault, not the workers themselves.
Safety is the priority in this country, and that’s why such a hefty fine was issued. Others should learn from severe financial penalties.
Fair to say, yes, the damage done set them back. Obviously, the time taken to put the fire out (about a day) and the time taken to repair the additional damage (who knows?).
That really was my feeling. I don’t know too many people who would do something like that knowingly. The people doing the welding have probably seen enough bad situations and heard about enough injuries that either they didn’t know the line was active or they were pushed into the situation.