SPOTLIGHT
HSE ISSUED WITH CROWN CENSURE
AFTER OWN WORKER INJURED IN
TESTING INCIDENT
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
has accepted a Crown Censure after a
worker at its laboratory was injured
when conducting an experiment at a
testing facility.
O
n 4 October 2016, a worker at HSE’s Laboratory
in Buxton suffered serious burns while setting up
an experimental hydrogen test rig. He has since
returned to work.
The incident happened when a prototype hydrogen
storage vessel was being tested to determine if the design
would be suitable for its intended use. While filling the
vessel, a connector failed and a quantity of hydrogen
escaped under pressure. The hydrogen ignited and the HSE
employee who was close to the vessel was injured.
HM Inspectors of Health and Safety investigated the
incident and served a Crown Improvement Notice requiring
HSE to provide a system of work for proof testing and
leak testing an assembled hydrogen line and test tank to
ensure, so far as is reasonable, the safety of employees and
other people in the vicinity. HSE complied with the Notice.
The investigation by HM Inspectors concluded that the
pressure testing went wrong because of failings to assess,
plan, manage and control a well-known risk of death or
serious injury.
The investigation team found the incident could have
been prevented by putting in place recognised control
measures available in longstanding published guidance.
Director of Field Operations, Samantha Peace said:
“The Act is not intended to stop people from doing work
that may be inherently dangerous, such as pressure testing.
It is about ensuring that where work involves danger then
this is reduced as much as it properly can be.
“In this case, HSE bear this responsibility as an employer.
They fell below the required standard and as the failings
exposed workers to the risk of death or serious injury, a
Crown Censure is the right course of action. HSE has co-
operated fully with the investigation and we are satisfied
that action has been taken to put matters right.”
Richard Judge said:
“As Chief Executive of HSE, and on behalf of my
colleagues on the Management Board and the HSE Board,
I very much regret this incident happened, and especially
that our colleague was injured. On this occasion, we did not
meet the standards we expect of others and that is deeply
disappointing. HSE accepts the Crown Censure.
16
HSE INTERNATIONAL
“We took early action to resolve the immediate issues
identified by the regulatory and internal investigations.
In line with our spirit of continuous improvement, we
are using the findings from the investigations as an
opportunity to learn and to do significantly better.”
By accepting the Crown Censure, HSE admitted to
breaching its duty under Section 2 of the Health and Safety
at Work etc. Act 1974 in that it exposed employees to risks
to their health, safety and welfare.
As a Government body, the Health & Safety Executive
cannot face prosecution in the same way as private or
commercial organisations and a Crown Censure is the
maximum sanction a government body can receive. There
is no financial penalty associated with Crown Censure, but
once accepted is an official record of a failing to meet the
standards set out in law.
IOSH SAYS HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY
NEEDS ‘RIGHT PEOPLE MAKING RIGHT
DECISIONS’ AFTER GRENFELL
Ensuring that “the right people” are
in place to “make the right decisions”
on fire safety in high-rise or complex
buildings is vital to prevent a repeat of
tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire,
IOSH, the leading global body for health
and safety professionals has said.
T
he interim report by Dame Judith Hackitt into building
regulations and fire safety, commissioned following
Grenfell, was published on Monday 18 December.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
is encouraged to see two of its prominent suggestions,
on the adequacy and clarity of rele