A waste and recycling company in the West Midlands has been fined £40,000 after Craig Pearson, 37, was killed while discharging a fire extinguisher.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Fire Protection Recycling Ltd failed to ensure proper safeguards for staff discharging fire extinguishers.
Pearson, a father of four from Dudley, was working for Fire Protection Recycling Limited at its Oldbury site when the incident happened on 7 March 2023.
While processing powder fire extinguishers, which were at the end of their serviceable life, a cartridge-type fire extinguisher had a sudden release of pressure and exploded, striking Pearson in the head.
After the incident, the fire extinguisher was found embedded in the ceiling of the workroom.
Pearson received treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for his injuries, but despite the efforts of medical staff, sadly died the next day, on 8 March.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Fire Protection Recycling Limited failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work and while they were recycling these types of fire extinguishers.
The company had failed to conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and its systems of work for processing these types of fire extinguishers were not suitable.
They did not have proper storage arrangements for old extinguishers waiting for processing, and there wasn’t a suitable restraint system for containing fire extinguishers when they were being discharged.
Commenting on the sentencing, HSE inspector Heather Campbell said: “Our thoughts today are with the family of Craig Pearson, a young dad of four.”
“He should have returned home safely to his family at the end of his working day, but because of the failings of Fire Protection Recycling Limited, he did not.”
“I hope the sentence handed down leaves companies in no doubt that we will not hesitate to take action against those that fail to protect their employees.”
Fire Protection Recycling Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £17,034.25 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.