News provided by Stoke-based company Power Electrics. Patrick Howell, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said they were alerted to oil in the River Salwarpe and Salty Brook on Saturday, January 15, last year, by a farmer. The subsequent clean-up cost £75,000 and took 16 months. Two officers were sent to investigate and discovered a cloudy film on the water's surface at Ford Lane and a strong diesel smell. The court was told that the generator was just under nine metres from the water, a location that the agency found unacceptable. Mr Howell said there was also no lock on a valve on its fuel tank and no secondary container for it. A ground sample taken nearby contained 23g of gas fuel per kg of soil. Richard Kimblin, for Vodaphone, said the company admitted the spill in contravention of the Water Resources Act 1991 and asked for four related charges to be taken into consideration. Power Electrics admitted four similar charges and was fined £3,500 for its part in the incident. Both companies were also ordered to pay Environment Agency costs of £1,255 each. Chairman of the magistrates David Hall said it was fortunate the consequences had not been more serious. He added: "The monitoring and inspection procedures of both companies seem to leave something to be desired and need to be looked at further." Mr Kimblin said there was no clear evidence how the fuel had leaked from the tank, but all that needed to be proved was that Vodaphone carried out some activity on the land. Representing Power Electrics, Charles Pugh said the company paid £75,000 for the site to be cleaned up and stressed no leak had been found on its tank. He said its pleas were on the basis it did not have a lock on a valve on the tank or a secondary container.
UK, HSENI Consultation Document In September, the Health & Safety Executive (Northern Ireland) hereafter known as HSENI, published a consultation document entitled “Proposals for the Transfer of Petroleum Licensing Functions from District Councils to HSENI and Related Matters” The purpose is that there is a need to rationalise the number of authorities currently from 26 to a single body for the 600 licensed sites that exist in the Province. It also is a direct reflection of the Hampton Review commissioned by the UK Government that published its findings in March 2005 stating that
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enforcing authorities should be rationalised and reduced wherever possible and where possible, undertake general health and safety activities. It is also a step for combined enforcement with the Department of Transport for Northern Ireland are concerned as organised crime is causing fraud from UK taxes where cross border activity from fuel deliveries from the Republic of Ireland where Tanker Drivers can be stopped by either Authority. The proposals also include draft regulations in the form of The Petroleum Licensing (Amendment) regulations 2007 Copies of the Consultation Document can be obtained from Ms Jackie Roberts Health & Safety Executive – Northern Ireland 83 Ladas Drive Belfast BT6 9FR Tel 028 9054 6896 Closing Date for any comments is Friday 12th January 2007
UK, Blackburn. Joiner engulfed in flames of petrol Oct 21st 2006 - A father of two Russell Greaves suffered serious burns when two petrol cans ignited on a building site. Police and colleagues believe Mr Greaves, may have been smoking a cigarette while he was handling the canisters, causing fuel fumes to ignite. The incident occurred at a house conversion in Sawley Road, Chatburn, and Mr Greaves suffered burns to his face and upper body. Site bosses said Mr Greaves, a joiner, was transferring petrol between containers in a steel storage unit when the accident occurred. Police and fire crews initially feared more fuel tanks would set alight as the Mr Greaves was engulfed in flames. However, they were able to quickly isolate the blaze. An air ambulance called to scene was unable to land due to low cloud. Mr Greaves was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by road and was later transferred to the burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. He was treated for serious burns to his upper body and face, but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening. The self-employed joiner was hired by David Holmes Construction, based in Ribchester Road, Dinckley, and the owner said the storage units were covered in signs warning workers not to handle flammable materials near a
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naked flame. Business owner David Holmes, 40, said: "What happened is that the contracted joiner has been in the steel lock-up decanting petrol for some reason. "It seems that he may have been smoking at the time and there's been a flash as the fumes have built up and he's suffered the burns. "I know that he was speaking to people after the accident and was conscious.
UK, Aylesbury. Delivery driver filled petrol tanks with diesel Oct 27 2006 - The Total garage in Bedgrove, Aylesbury. An oil tanker driver who mistakenly filled a petrol station's unleaded tanks with diesel has resigned, it was revealed. The blunder happened at the Total service station in Bedgrove, Aylesbury, and at least eight vehicles are known to have damaged their engines. The petrol station had to be closed for two days while the affected tanks were cleaned. The garage has apologised, and the petrol station is now open as normal. Wincanton, the transport firm which delivers fuel to the garage, said a full internal investigation was authorised, and a driver had since handed in his resignation.
UK, HSE Example Risk Assessments The HSE have produced some example risk assessments to help you see what a risk assessment might look like. They hopefully make clear that a risk assessment should be about identifying practical actions that protect people from harm and injury, not a bureaucratic experience. We believe that for the great majority of risk assessments, short bullet points work well. If you are involved in the same activities as those covered in the examples, you will find much of the detail directly relevant to you. However, you should not simply read across to your own business – these examples do not provide you with a short cut to your own assessment. All businesses have their unique features and a particular example may cover some hazards you do not have to deal with in your own workplace, and not mention some you do – you will have to take your own 5 steps when carrying out your own risk assessment. Even where the hazards are the same,
