Explosion costs contractor GBP 23,700

A contractor has been fined £15,000 after an accident in which an employee suffered injuries and damage to his hearing.

Galliford Try Construction will also pay £8,788 after a worker was injured by the explosion of an inflatable pipe stopper when it was inflated by a machine that was not compatible with it.

The joiner experienced a compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula and also damaged his hearing.

Inspector for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Debbie John claims the accident was caused by a "catalogue of errors" including a lack of proper controls by the contractor and a non-provision of rescue equipment suitable for use in confined spaces.

She says: "[There was] a failure to provide any rescue equipment for staff working in confined spaces, and a failure to provide safeguards such as markings indicating the incompatibility of equipment."

According to the HSE, issues arising from work performed in confined spaces can affect professions involved in complex plant work and storage containers.