BOC Ltd, a Surrey based international gas supplier, has been fined after an explosion left a worker with life changing injuries.
The incident took place in Bristol and was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The explosion and fire resulted in serious burns and other injuries to 57 year old Alan Garton. In addition employees Craig Knight and Dale Roberts were also injured.
On the 7th August 2014 Bristol Crown court heard that Mr Garton, who worked at the Dissolved Acetylene Filling Plant in Brislington was injured during the process of filling an acetylene cylinder. A fire started and burnt for eight days after the solution became unstable.
An investigation by HSE found that BOC had failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and did not take necessary measures to prevent a major accident.
BOC Ltd was fined £175,000 with costs of £85,000 after admitting breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. No evidence was presented on the other charge concerning a breach of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999.