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Current affairs DSEAR case studies
THE IMPORTANCE of following DSEAR regulations and the consequences of not following them can and has resulted in loss of life, serious injuries, significant fire damage and subsequent financial fines, as the following case studies illustrate.
LMA Services On 30 June 2016, a fire incident occurred at chemical company LMA Services of Halifax Way, Pocklington, during the decanting process of heptane (a flammable liquid) from a large bulk storage tank into 4 litre metal cans. At the time of fire ignition, the operator dropped the can and exited the building, where he raised the alarm. It is understood that the operator did not suffer any serious injuries. The fire spread quickly and destroyed two warehouses and an external storage area located between the two warehouse buildings. An investigation by the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) found that the process involved placing a bulk container of heptane onto racking at a height of about 1.5m. A table was then positioned beneath the bulk container onto which a small electrical weighing scale was positioned. Metal cans were placed onto the scale and an employee filled the cans by weight by manually operating a tap on the bulk container in the warehouse building. A flammable vapour created during the process came into contact with an ignition
source, causing the vapour to ignite. HSE’s investigation found that the most likely source of ignition was a spark from the electrical weighing scales. LMA Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the DSEAR Regulations. The company was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £2,377 in costs. After the hearing, HSE inspector Dave Stewart
commented: ‘The risks associated with the decanting operation were not fully understood by the company. There were potential ignition sources present within the area where a flammable vapour was likely to occur. ‘This case highlights the importance of assessing risks associated with flammable atmospheres. Employers should ensure that adequate measures are taken to reduce the formation of flammable atmospheres so far as is reasonably practicable, and to ensure that only suitable electrical equipment is used in areas where a flammable atmosphere may be present.’
Wood Treatment Ltd This case has been associated with explosive dust atmospheres – Wood Treatment Ltd was a manufacturer of a variety of wood fibre and wood powder products. Early on 17 July 2015, several people were
injured, four killed or missing and the mill destroyed by at least three explosions at the wood treatment site.
48 MAY 2020
www.frmjournal.com
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