Paraphrenitis Blog

A Leicester based company has been accused of creating a potential fire zone inside its premises by storing flammable aerosols in large qualities without any proper safety arrangement. Following this prosecution, HSE has warned other companies to follow safety regulations or else risk similar prosecution.

HSE found that the company (A. M. Widdowson & Son Ltd) had not done any risk assessment before storing such hazardous material. Their entire Hilltop Industrial Estate site located in Leicestershire was raided by HSE, and it was discovered that excessive amounts of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) had been housed in the premises for more than six months.

HSE was not informed of this storage, and the company had not taken adequate safety measures to ensure that workers and residents are protected from the danger of a sudden outbreak of fire.

The company was charged on two counts of violating Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 6(2) of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH). The judge at Coalville Magistrates Court imposed a fine on the company (£5,000) and asked it to pay costs of £4,900.

According to HSE Inspector James Wright, there was terrible lack of proper arrangements within the company’s premises for the safe storage of aerosol. There was so much of LPG on the site that a fire could have broken out any moment, causing significant loss of life and property. The company had also not informed HSE about the existence and functioning of the site. The existence of any site that houses potentially dangerous materials should be notified to HSE.

The NEBOSH Fire Certificate has been designed for managers, supervisors, and employee representatives who need to ensure that their organisation meets its responsibilities under fire safety legislation. It is of benefit to organisations in enabling them to contribute to the conduct and review of fire risk assessments and fire preventive and protective measures within most workplaces.