Fuel terminal operator fined GBP50000 after petrol spill in Essex
December 23, 2009
The operator of an Essex-based fuel storage terminal has been fined £50,000 after a large and dangerous pool of petrol leaked from a road tanker while it was loading.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the road tanker overflowed in July 2007 when a shut-off valve failed. The valve at the West Thurrock terminal was blocked by debris, preventing it from closing so a large pool of petrol formed, putting the safety of both terminal workers and tanker drivers at risk.
The terminal operator, Vopak London Terminal BV Limited, did not adequately assess and prevent the risk created by the valve failure and failed to appropriately manage the risks created by the leak.
The company, based in West Thurrock, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on 22 December 2009 and admitted breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999. It was also ordered to pay £19,136 in costs.
HSE Inspector John Hawkins said:
"This could so easily have been a very serious incident. Gasoline is an extremely flammable material, with a flashpoint of -40 degrees Celsius, and if ignited many lives could have been lost.
"Vopak London Terminal BV Limited failed to take all the necessary measures required to prevent this incident and failed to control the spill once it had occurred. It even failed to follow its own written procedures for handling such an occurrence.
"This case should serve as a warning to all operators of petrochemical storage sites - where there are serious failings to manage health and safety HSE will not hesitate to prosecute."
Vopak London Terminal BV Limited admitted breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 by:
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient controls to prevent a gasoline spill
-Failing to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for large gasoline spills
-Failing to provide and manage an adequate emergency shutdown procedure
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient controls to prevent a discharge of static electricity
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient training and information regarding gasoline spill hazards to tanker drivers.
Find out more about Risk Assessment
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the road tanker overflowed in July 2007 when a shut-off valve failed. The valve at the West Thurrock terminal was blocked by debris, preventing it from closing so a large pool of petrol formed, putting the safety of both terminal workers and tanker drivers at risk.
The terminal operator, Vopak London Terminal BV Limited, did not adequately assess and prevent the risk created by the valve failure and failed to appropriately manage the risks created by the leak.
The company, based in West Thurrock, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on 22 December 2009 and admitted breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999. It was also ordered to pay £19,136 in costs.
HSE Inspector John Hawkins said:
"This could so easily have been a very serious incident. Gasoline is an extremely flammable material, with a flashpoint of -40 degrees Celsius, and if ignited many lives could have been lost.
"Vopak London Terminal BV Limited failed to take all the necessary measures required to prevent this incident and failed to control the spill once it had occurred. It even failed to follow its own written procedures for handling such an occurrence.
"This case should serve as a warning to all operators of petrochemical storage sites - where there are serious failings to manage health and safety HSE will not hesitate to prosecute."
Vopak London Terminal BV Limited admitted breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 by:
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient controls to prevent a gasoline spill
-Failing to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for large gasoline spills
-Failing to provide and manage an adequate emergency shutdown procedure
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient controls to prevent a discharge of static electricity
-Failing to provide suitable and sufficient training and information regarding gasoline spill hazards to tanker drivers.
Find out more about Risk Assessment
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