Telford carpet firm fined £10,000 over factory blast
A carpet firm has been fined £10,000 after an accident at its Telford factory in which a pressure vessel exploded and flew almost 20 feet into the air.
Shocked staff dived for cover as a 250kg metal lid was torn from its hinges and fired into the roof of the factory, before landing just feet from workers.
No-one was hurt in the blast at Brintons Carpets in Halesfield but the Health and Safety Executive said the dangerous accident "could have been prevented" following an investigation.
Telford Magistrates Court heard that Brintons Carpets' four stock dye vessels, each described as industrial pressure cookers, were pressurised while in use, and on June 4 last year, one of the vessels exploded.
The lid was torn off its locking mechanism and hinges and hit the roof of the factory six metres above. The court heard the force of the collision was such that it left a dent in one of the factory roof girders.
One worker was standing just a few feet from where the lid came to rest.
The explosion was found to have been caused by a failure of the vessel's regulator and pressure relief valve.
The HSE prosecuted Brintons as the owner and user of the pressure vessels and Surrey-based Allianz Engineering Inspection Services Ltd. Allianz was contracted to carry out periodic safety examinations.
HSE found Brintons Carpets Ltd had not ensured that suitable and sufficient maintenance of the vessel's safety devices was being carried out.
Brintons Carpets Ltd, of Kidderminster, admitted breaching health and safety regulations and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,174. Allianz Inspection Services Ltd, of Guildford, admitted breaching Regulation 9(2) of The Pressures Systems Safety Regulations 2000 and was fined £13,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,111.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Lyn Mizen said: "It was a matter of pure luck that no one was seriously injured."
