An Essex company has been prosecuted after four of its chemical storage tanks failed leading to a spillage of 150 tonnes of hazardous material on 11th July 2013.
A subsequent Health and Safety Executive investigation found Industrial Chemicals Limited failed to manage, inspect and maintain the tanks in question.
Speaking outside Basildon Crown Court, HSE inspector Andrew Saunders said: “This was a major spill of highly hazardous material that caused the evacuation of an industrial estate and the closure of roads in the surrounding area.
“Fortunately in this case no employees or members of the public were injured.”
Tanks not suitably inspected
The incident occurred at Titan Works on Hogg Lane when a glass reinforced plastic tank catastrophically failed. 66 tonnes of aluminium chloride were released into the surrounding environment.
A trio of tanks were damaged by the spillage. The chain reaction sparked the additional release of 32 tonnes of aluminium chloride and 52 tonnes of hydrochloric acid.
ICL were unable to demonstrate to HSE inspectors that the tanks were being:
- Operated within their design lives
- Suitably inspected and maintained to ensure they were fit for continued use
Five Prohibition Notices were subsequently served ordering ICL to stop using the remaining GRP tanks on site.
A follow-up inspection on 16th July 2013 of the company’s metallic storage vessels saw a further ten Prohibition Notices issued for the same reasons.
HSE inspector Mr Saunders commented: “Industrial Chemical Ltd’s failure to manage, inspect and maintain their GRP tanks contributed to this spillage.
“The measures needed to prevent this kind of incident are straightforward and guidance is freely available from HSE. There is no excuse for companies storing hazardous materials not to follow this guidance.”
Industrial Chemicals Limited, of Titan Works, Hogg Lane, Grays, was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £14,231 in costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
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