HSE & EA Prosecution: £2.5million fine for chemical company after large scale loss of containment
Tuesday 17th June 2025
A chemical company has been fined £2.5 million after entering a guilty plea to health and safety and environmental permitting offences following a joint HSE and EA prosecution, after the escape of hydrochloric acid from its site placed neighbouring communities at the risk of exposure. At sentencing, the fine was increased due to previous health and safety breaches which included a previous fine of £1.2 million.
The incident is a reminder to those producing and handling chemicals of their duty to ensure that equipment is adequately inspected and maintained to prevent losses of containment. Upper tier COMAH sites must have plans in place to prevent harm to third parties arising from their activities.
The case highlights the frequency of multi-million-pound fines for large organisations found in breach of health, safety and environmental law and underlines how previous convictions can have a significant aggravating effect on sentence.