30 June 2009
Sasha Wood

A rendering plant has admitted safety failures that led to two workers collapsing after inhaling hydrogen sulphide fumes from an animal waste pit.

The men were delivering carcasses from a nearby abattoir to be processed at the Sacone Environmental plant in Brechin near Dundee in north east Scotland. The waste is tipped into a pit and remains there until it is rendered, releasing hydrogen sulphide gas.

On entering the waste intake area, they were overcome by high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide that had built up in the atmosphere.

The workers passed out on the floor and had to be rescued by paramedics. Both were treated in hospital, but the 53-year-old suffered severe lung damage and had to be kept in intensive care overnight.

Forfar Sheriff Court heard that the waste intake area was effectively a confined space, with little ventilation. To stop the smell from the pit escaping, the area was enclosed and the only access was through two sets of doors, which opened one at a time.

HSE inspector John Radcliffe said it was foreseeable that gas would accumulate around the pit and the company could have used taken steps to reduce the risk of gas exposure.

 "Such areas should be well ventilated and gas monitoring equipment, designed to provide an alert in the event of a gas build up, should have been provided. There was no quick means of escape from this area of the plant, nor was protective respiratory equipment provided," he said.

"Hydrogen sulphide is an acutely toxic gas to humans. There have been numerous fatal workplace poisonings in industries including leather plants, animal houses, sewerage and effluent treatment sumps and other confined spaces."

Sacone was fined £12,000 under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, for failing to ensure the workers' safety.

Before the incident, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) had served several enforcement notices on Sacone following complaints of offensive smells from the site.

Categories:
HSE, Enforcement (prosecutions), Prosecutions, Enforcement (prosecutions)



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