A chemical company has been sentenced this month in Leeds Crown Court for breaches in safety, following the ejection of a highly toxic chemical.
A company maintenance technician unwittingly opened a valve on top of an isotanker at Syngenta Ltd’s Huddersfield plant, causing the release of between 3.5 and 3.8 tonnes of paraquat dichloride solution.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm over the incident, and Syngenta pleaded guilty to breaching both the Control Of Major Accident Hazards Regulations SI 1999/743 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations SI 1998/2306. They were fined £200,000, plus £13,041 in costs.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Angus Robbins commented: "This incident could have been prevented if Syngenta had properly assessed the real risk of the valve being opened while the tank was under pressure".
