A fine has been issued to a chemicals firm as a result of an explosion at its factory near the Scottish Borders.
A laboratory, which was part of the factory was demolished after the explosion on 10 January 2020. Luckily, nobody was injured due to the accident.
After investigation the blast at Rathburn Chemicals was thought to be due to excessive pentane vapour, generated by the company's distillation process, overheating and being ignited by the site's extraction system.
Several problems were found during the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, including a failure to:
Rathburn Chemicals (Manufacturing) Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £3,000 on 20 September 2024.
HSE inspector Isabelle Martin said: "This was a serious incident and it is fortunate that no one was injured by the blast. The explosion could have been avoided had Rathburn Chemicals simply carried out the correct control measures and safe working practices.
"This case also highlights the risks from distilling flammable substances, the need for reliable control measures and adequate training of employees. Companies looking for further advice on this issue can find readily available guidance on the HSE website."
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