A civil engineering contractor has been fined £60,000 after rupturing a gas pipe with a digger during construction works. And the gas company called out to fix it has been fined £1.2m after it sparked a fireball.
Folkestone Magistrates Court heard how on 27th May 2016, Southern Gas Network (SGN) employees were called to a gas escape at Thanet Way in Whitstable, Kent. The gas escape had been caused by employees of Cliffe Contractors damaging a medium pressure polyethylene gas main while digging.
During the repair by Southern Gas Networks the gas ignited, causing the injuries to two SGN employees. One worker suffered severe burns while the other sustained cuts and bruises. An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Cliffe Contractors had not followed safe digging techniques when excavating around the pipeline resulting in the gas main being damaged by a mechanical excavator. This led to a significant amount of gas being released.
Subsequently, SGN did not follow their own procedures or recognised safe systems of work when repairing the main. Southern Gas Networks Plc of Station Approach in Horley had pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at an earlier hearing. It was fined £1.2m and ordered to pay costs of £18,975.43. Cliffe Contractors Ltd of Anthony’s Way in Rochester had pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at an earlier hearing. It was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,689.13.
HSE principal specialist inspector Martin Wayland said after the hearing: “This incident, in which a worker could have easily been killed, could have been avoided if safe excavation by Cliffe Contractors had been carried out and safe mains repair policies had been followed by SGN. Both companies were aware of the precautions that were required to be taken.” Content courtesy of The Construction Index. https://bit.ly/2RHJ68B
Jason Kay, Director
