04.11.2008

Warning after Exploding Pipe Stopper Injures Contractor

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning individuals and companies of the dangers of working in construction after a joiner suffered leg injuries and damaged hearing when an over-inflated pipe stopper exploded in the confined space where he was working, resulting in significant hospital treatment.

The joiner was sub-contracted to Galliford Try Construction Ltd, working on the construction of a water treatment works at Victoria Road, Holyhead when the incident took place on 16 June 2005.

He was constructing shuttering for concrete to be poured into a manhole when he was asked by a colleague to insert an inflatable pipe stopper into a culvert to stop the fluid in the culvert in so it could be lined. The pipe stopper had a maximum inflation pressure of 1.5 bar (approximately 21psi) and was inflated without warning. However the device inflating the pipe stopper was not compatible with it, and had a higher pressure safety cut-off.

As a result, the pipe stopper burst with significant force, the joiner sustained a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, and also suffered damage to his hearing from the noise of the pipe stopper exploding.

At Holyhead Magistrates' Court, the principal contractor, Galliford Try Construction Limited of Cowley Business Park, Cowley, Uxbridge, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,788.

The pipe stopper and inflation equipment was provided by Selwood Ltd, of Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, who also pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 23 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. They were fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,798.

HSE Inspector Debbie John said:-

"There were a number of failings identified in the investigation into this case, including a failure to provide any rescue equipment for staff working in confined spaces, and a failure to provide safeguards such as markings indicating the incompatibility of equipment."

"There were a catalogue of errors that led to the incident - incompatible equipment was used, the pipe stopper wasn't used correctly, and Galliford Try did not exercise proper control over the work to be done, resulting in confined-space rescue equipment also not being available."

"Fortunately the injured man was able to get into a position where he could be rescued by his colleagues, but he still needed treatment in hospital and is not fully recovered from his injuries more than three years later."