CEMEX fined after man killed in explosion

Company receives £200,000 fine following death of employee in explosion at Rugby Cement Works

CEMEX UK Operations Ltd have been fined £200,000 following the death of a worker in an explosion at their Rugby premises on 15 January 2008.

The force of the explosion was so great that it blew employee Peter Reynolds out through the side of a building and on to a road 10 metres below. An ambulance crew attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Leamington Spa Crown Court heard how Mr Reynolds was treating waste cement dust in the bypass dust plant at the company’s Rugby Cement Works. While he was clearing a blockage in the lower mixer there was a violent explosion of steam and dust from inside the machine.

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation into the incident found that CEMEX had recognized the potential for blockages to cause explosions as steam pressure built up within the mixer, but had taken no action to prevent them.

The court also heard the company had failed to review its risk assessment following a previous incident in May 2006, when another man was injured using the same machine. This explosion bent a metal-clad external wall, pushing it out by 50cm.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Neil Craig said: ‘This was an entirely avoidable tragedy which has left a young family without a husband and a father. If CEMEX had investigated the previous incident properly, Mr Reynolds would still be alive today.

‘CEMEX’s protection against the build up of pressure was for the plant to be continuously vented when processing waste cement dust, but it frequently blocked. These blockages then caused steam to build up to a high pressure.

‘The company could have made a number of changes to the mixer to reduce the flow of dust and improve the venting and cooling systems, or devised a new system of work. However, no action was taken and employees were expected to operate this dangerous piece of machinery.

‘Employers must make sure that they take proper precautions to protect their workers, especially when there is the potential for explosion.’

CEMEX UK Operations Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £172,000 costs.