Two employees working in the mould shop suffered burns to their face and heads when a gas canister exploded at Encirc’s Ash Road site in Elton, Chester on May 2014.
While the employees were welding pieces on work benches, with flammable aerosols stored around them, a gas canister exploded causing a flash fire and injuring the men, Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday (October 22).
Explosion
Oxyacetylene welding was also taking place in the area giving rise to a further risk of fire and explosion and putting other employees at risk, the HSE said.
The HSE investigation found no risk assessment had been carried out and no instruction was given to operatives in relation to the storage and use of flammable aerosols on work benches in the mould shop.
The company had failed in its duties towards its employees and in the failure to assess the risks and to implement control measures, HSE said.
Encirc Ltd of Gortahurk Road, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £772.90.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jane Carroll said “This case highlights the fact that a failure to properly assess the risks within a workplace and take effective remedial action can lead to poor practices developing and employees being injured.”
Cider, chutneys and training
Enric manufactures jars for dips, jams, chutneys and pasta – as well as bottles for milk, cider, wine, spirits and vinegar.
Earlier this year, Enric launched a training and consultancy service at its Chester site to help glass manufacturers boost product quality and plant efficiency, while streamlining production costs.
Its services include audits of production lines and organisational structures to identify areas for improvement, as well as comprehensive guidance on standardising production line procedures and implementing lean manufacturing processes throughout a plant.
The course is also on offer at the firm’s site in Derrylin, Northern Ireland.