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10 November 2005 - HSE Warning on Handling
and Storage of Petrol
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Sussex Police issued a
warning to motor vehicle repair garages as to the handling and storing of petrol
safely within their premises, following the prosecution of Howard Hawkins, owner
of Anchor Garage, Peacehaven, Sussex, at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 8 November
2005.
Hawkins was found to have breached section 2(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA), which states: "It shall be the
duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the
health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees”. He
received a fine of £10,000 with costs of £15,000.
The incident occurred on 19 February, 2004, when a young
apprentice, Mr. Lewes Murphy, aged only 19 years, became engulfed in flames,
following an explosion within the garage. Mr. Murphy died four days
later.
Judge Richard Hayward, Passing sentence, said of the garage
owner:
"To say that you were complacent about health and safety is
an understatement. You regard health and safety as a tiresome intrusion into
your business and a matter of common sense that you could leave to the
experience of your mechanics. Being a dinosaur can sometimes be endearing but
not on health and safety matters."
Joanna Teasdale, HSE Inspector, said:
“In this case the garage employer apparently had little
understanding of how highly flammable petrol is. Minimal attempts had been made
to overcome the hazards associated with its handling.
"The joint investigation with Sussex Police found that no
formal procedures were in place for transferring and storing highly flammable
liquids or draining fuel from cars. Howard Hawkins had also failed to register
his garage with HSE.
“HSE issues simple guidance for petrol handling and storage in garages and we
are always happy to advise on these matters. Most of the hazards of fuel removal
can be mitigated by the use of a proprietary fuel retriever; providing a
suitable container; eliminating static electricity; and capturing any petrol
vapour displaced.
"This case is particularly distressing as Mr Murphy was
learning the trade and so was heavily reliant on the duty of care owed to him by
his employer. This was sadly absent.”
The final word must be given to the parents of young Lewes
Murphy, Michael and Elizabeth Murphy, who said:
“The tragic death of our youngest son Lewis has been both
traumatic and painful for us. It is the most painful news any parent can go
through, that one of their children has been killed.
"We would like to get this message across to all those
parties involved with placing young school leavers in a working environment –
that they ensure that the companies they send these young people to are
registered with the HSE and that they are receiving proper health and safety
training at the workplace. It is not enough to assume that the other party is
carrying it out.”
The HSE provide an excellent webpage containing advice and
information for the motor vehicle repair industry, which can be accessed by
clicking the following:
HSE Motor Vehicle Repair (MVR) homepage
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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