Employee Was 'Engulfed In Flames'
The employee identified that a leak had occurred during a transfer of petrol from a fuel receiver tank into a vehicle's petrol tank. He went over to the unit to stop the leak and in doing so walked through a puddle of petrol, which had formed. The petrol was ignited by what is believed to be a spark from an oxyacetylene torch being used nearby. The man's trousers were set alight and he received severe burns to the backs of his legs and his hands as he tried to take the trousers off. He managed to put out the flames by using water from a nearby tap.
The man was admitted to hospital where he remained for five weeks and had to have two skin grafts as his burns covered 17% of his body. He has not returned to work. Phoenix Autoparts 2000 Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosion Atmosphere Regulations 2002, for failure to apply measures to control risks from a dangerous substances, and Regulation 5 (1) of the same regulations, for failing to make suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees arising from the presence of a dangerous substance.
The District Judge commented that the fine would have been higher but the Court took into account the financial difficulties of the company and their ability to pay.
Companies have been warned to protect their employees from dangerous substances.
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