Scald Injuries During Steam Pipe Maintenance Lead To Prosecution

Brief Summary

Two workers carried out maintenance on steam pipework at a food manufacturing site and were splashed with hot water when a gasket was removed. The regulator found the employer had not carried out a task specific risk assessment or documented a safe system of work, did not follow isolation and lock off procedures and did not manage the working at height risks. The case shows the consequences when basic planning and verification for intrusive work are missing.

What Was The Incident?

The injured people were replacing a leaking gasket on an isolation valve in the boiler room. They were working from a gantry that did not give direct access to the valve so both stepped onto the boiler to reach the part. When the gasket was removed they were splashed with hot water from the steam pipework. One worker suffered four to five percent subdermal burns and the other suffered nine percent subdermal second degree burns. The regulator found no documented risk assessment or safe system of work for the task, isolation and lock off procedures were not used or verified, the activity involved work at height without adequate measures to prevent a fall and there was insufficient supervision and monitoring to make sure procedures were followed.

What Was The Outcome?

The employer pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined 594,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of 5,834, a victim surcharge of 2,000 and 6,000 compensation to the injured employee. All sums were to be paid by 4 January 2027.

Key Points To Consider

Task specific risk assessment and work instructions. Review whether every intrusive task has a written risk assessment method statement and permit. Confirm that job documentation covers isolation steps access arrangements tools required and who is competent to carry out the work.

Isolation procedure and verification. Check that isolation and lock off procedures exist for steam and other hazardous energy sources, that isolation certificates or permits are used and that the integrity of isolations is proved before any intrusive work begins.

Access planning supervision and competence for work at height. Ensure access equipment lets people reach the work without improvising, confirm those carrying out the work are trained and competent and put supervision and monitoring in place to enforce safe systems of work.

HSE Prosecution Link