Gas Cylinder Fatality

An unfortunate series of events led to a gas cylinder fatality – A worker died when one of 66 heavy argonite gas cylinders hit him as they were propelled at speeds of up to 170 mph after one toppled over, discharged high-pressure gas, which caused it to collide with others and set off a chain reaction. The fatal event occurred as the worker walked with a colleague inside a building during a construction project in Welwyn Garden City. One of the gas cylinders flew out of the aragonite storeroom and struck him. The impact caused multiple injuries and the worker died at the scene of the incident.

St Albans Crown Court heard (in July 2013) that 80 cylinders, nearly two metres high and weighing about 142 kg each, were stored without their safety-critical protection caps and were not secured properly in racks. The principal contractor on the project, Crown House Technologies, had hired Kidde Fire Protection Services to supply and install fire suppression equipment in the new facility it was building. Kidde Products then carried out the work. Although this is an older case, the messages are still important.

An investigation by the HSE into this gas cylinder fatality determined that one or more of the cylinders was destabilised and probably fell over, causing its unprotected valve to shear off near the cylinder neck. This released an uncontrolled jet of liquefied argonite gas under high pressure (equivalent to about 300 bar), causing the cylinder to move and collide with others, which were then also damaged as they fell over. As this chain reaction developed, shocked workers looked for shelter while the heavy cylinders shot around them. Some of the cylinders developed enough energy to penetrate walls and ceiling voids, travelling into more remote parts of the building.

The HSE inspectors concluded that the three firms had failed to recognise the significant risks involved in the project or to carry out an adequate risk assessment. Crown House and the two Kidde companies had failed to coordinate the scheduled work or to cooperate properly. There was also insufficient training and supervision.

Crown House Technologies, which employed the deceased workers, was fined £117,000 with costs of £119,393 after pleading guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Kidde Products admitted the same two charges, while Kidde Fire Protection Services pleaded guilty to offences under Regulations 6 and 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. The judge fined both firms £165,000 and ordered them to pay costs of £59,696 each.

The HSE Inspector commented:

There is little evidence that those involved were competent to undertake this work, or that safe systems of work were provided, or that there was suitable cooperation between the contractors involved …

Employees of other companies were allowed to enter the argonite store while it was potentially unsafe to do so, and there is no evidence that anyone explained the risks to them, or acted effectively to control these risks

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