Northallerton Magistrates, 4 August, heard how the explosion at
Mason Engineering on 18 November 2013 happened as they were transferring
oxygen between pressurised cylinders. The partners had rigged up a
make-shift hose fitting that was not designed for the high risk
procedure.
Debris built up in the end of the hose, causing it to overheat and ignite in the oxygen.
One
of their workers, aged 48 at time of incident, was caught in the blast
and suffered life changing injuries when he was blinded in his left eye
and lost his left thumb and forefinger.
Samuel Trevor Mason and
Shaun Christopher Mason, both of Blackhorse Lane Swainby, Northallerton
both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £4000 each and ordered to pay costs of
£1171/15 each.
HSE Inspector Geoff Fletcher said:
“This was
an accident that should never have happened. Trevor and Shaun Mason
admitted to developing their own practice rather than following the
manufacturer’s guidelines. Unfortunately their employee has to live with
the permanent consequences of their failure to consider the risks of
transferring oxygen with in house manufactured components”
IOSH Managing Safely
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