Chesterfield Special Cylinders Ltd was fined £700,000 after fatal failure of pressurised equipment

Chesterfield Special Cylinders Ltd was fined £869,498 (inc.costs) for safety breaches after a 64-year-old worker was fatally wounded by shrapnel ejected from testing equipment.

The circumstances were:

• On 10 June 2015, John Townsend was leak testing eight 1500 litre cylinders.
• This comprised applying compressed air inside to create pressure.
• Prior to installing the fittings, 1.5 litres of a mineral oil-based corrosion inhibitor had been placed into each of the cylinders.
• The inhibitor contaminated the leak test manifold during venting of cylinders.
• It was subjected to enough pressure inside the manifold to cause the test equipment to fail.
• The failure was catastrophic enough to fatally injure Mr Townsend.

The HSE inspector commented:
“This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to identify any additional risks that arise when work processes are adapted. Companies should accurately identify and control all potential hazards in the workplace and thereafter monitor performance through effective supervision.”