Workers burned in an accident at an evaporation plant

Two workers were burned one seriously after hot liquid escaped unexpectedly during maintenance work - 20th June 2008

Companies face hefty fines if they fail to ensure safe working environments for workers. This was highlighted following the prosecution of two companies after an accident at work saw two workers taken to hospital, one with serious burns.

This workplace accident happened 12th May 2005 in Greenwich after Tate & Lyle (now Syral UK Ltd) had contracted the cleaning and maintenance work at an evaporating plant to Brewchem International Ltd. The evaporating plant works by boiling of water to leave concentrate liquids. Pipe work required opening so it could be cleaned using a high-pressure jet. Whilst being opened there was an uncontrolled release of hot liquid, which hit five workers causing serious burns to one man and slight burns to another, also causing him to suffer from shock. The other three workers were uninjured.

These workplace injuries required the worker to be put in an emergency shower and airlifted to hospital where he remained for seven days, being treated for serious burns to the neck face and arms.

An inspector for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "The two companies involved in this incident failed to provide a safe system of work during the maintenance operations. This led to the hospitalisation of two workers, and the incident could easily have injured more. Multiple failings in the planning and control of the maintenance work by Tate & Lyle led to an avoidable incident taking place. Brewchem International Ltd, who provided the personnel carrying out much of the work, had inadequate arrangements in place to ensure operations directly managed by Tate & Lyle were carried out safely."

Syral UK Ltd, pleaded guilty at the City of London Magistrates Court on Friday 13th June 2008 of breaching Section 2 (1) and Section 3 (1) of the Heath and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £15,000 for two breaches (a total of £30,000), and ordered to pay costs of £6,500. Brewchem International Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 (1) of the Heath and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £10,000, and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.