‘Pure fortune’ welder wasn’t killed

A company has been fined £125,000 with £20,000 costs after pleading guilty to health and safety breaches which left a welder lucky to be alive.

Michael White, of Oldham, suffered leg injuries after an oil-filled tank he was working on exploded in March, 2007.

Judge David Griffith-Jones told Maidstone Crown Court it was lucky there were not multiple fatalities. The accident happened at the Hoo peninsular premises of Eco Oil Ltd, on the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, north Kent.

James Ageros, prosecuting, said 41 fire engines fought the blaze using 6,300 litres of foam.

A 200-yard exclusion zone was ordered and businesses were evacuated.

Mr Ageros said the force of the explosion tore off the top of the tank where Mr White had been working.

He said: “Somehow, he remained on top of the tank. He was surrounded by smoke and flames and screaming to others to get him down. In panic, he jumped into the basket of the platform.”

He was taken to hospital and treated for tissue damage to his left leg.

It was put in a splint and he needed keyhole surgery.

The prosecutor said the tank next to the one which exploded mercifully contained water.

Passing sentence, Judge Griffith-Jones said: “Mr White is a very lucky man to have survived.

“It is pure good fortune he was not killed. Everyone on that site within the environment close to that tank had their lives placed at risk.”

The judge said no sensible thought had been given to the way the work should be carried out so as to minimise risk.

“I consider the standards in place at Kingsnorth were lamentable.

“The risk was substantial given the nature of the site and the substances handled.”

Like other companies, it was a difficult time financially, though a directors’ report expressed some optimism for the future, with a new site at Ipswich.

The firm’s former managing director has also been fined £5,000 with £500 costs.