A manufacturing firm from Norwich has been fined following the death of two employees, who were working with flammable substances in a spray booth. It was heard by Norwich Crown Court, that on 13 July 2015, the workers had already sprayed many welded steel buckets that morning and were getting ready to do the next batch. The flammable vapour, which is made when cleaning or flushing a paint spray gun, was then ignited by one of the various sources of ignition which were nearby at the scene - setting off an explosion which killed both workers.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the immediate cause of the explosion to be the incomplete and inconsistent approach to health and safety by both the company and its employees. There was a lack of suitable control measures; specifically a suitable and sufficient safe system of work for the activities in the spray booth.
The company in question, Harford Attachments Limited of Spar Road, Norwich pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations SI 2002/2776. They have been fined £145,000 and ordered to pay costs of £65,900.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Keith Waller stated that: "This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement safe systems of work, and failure to ensure that health and safety documentation was communicated and followed."
