Global chemicals firm fined after dangerous steam release

A major chemical firm has been fined £400,000 after a worker escaped injury following a high-pressure steam release. The company pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and Regulation 3(1) of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

The employee had been carrying out unsafe maintenance work when the incident took place during the replacement of a faulty steam trap on small-bore pipework. There was a failure of the valve used to isolate his location from the steam resulting in the controllable release of the high-pressure steam.

An investigation by the HSE found several failures with the system of work, including the valve and flange bolts being affected by corrosion, and the routine cutting of bolts rather than unscrewing them as a result of the corrosion. The company also used a single method of isolation to carry our maintenance work on the small-bore pipework. The HSE has published guidance on this hazard, emphasising that double isolation is safer. The guidance can be found here: The safe isolation of plant and equipment – HSE.