Oak Farm Gas Company Ltd, (trading as Mr Fizz) has been fined after an explosion killed a worker and severely injured a member of the public. The gas firm specialises in the supply of high-pressure carbon dioxide, nitrogen and gas mixtures for licensed trade drink dispensers.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that Kerry Daly, 21, of Uxbridge in Hillingdon, was employed at Mr Fizz solely to fill empty gas cylinders with various types of pure and mixed gas. The HSE investigation showed the equipment at Mr Fizz's workshop was totally unsuitable for filling a low pressure gas cylinder. Mr Daly's training consisted solely of verbal instruction and there was no documentation of this, nor any written risk assessments.
Mr Daly attempted to fill a low pressure cylinder and it exploded. Mr Daly was severely injured and died later that evening from his injuries.
Oak Farm Gas Company Ltd, trading as Mr Fizz, of Trinominis House, 125 -129 High Street, Edgware, Harrow pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and regulations 4(3) and 8(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay costs of £50,000.