Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
UK Construction Directory
Search our 157,036 companies....

Construction News

11/11/2015

Tata Steel Fined After Employee Scarred By Molten Steel Explosion

Construction News Image
Tata Steel has been fined after an employee was showered in molten metal during an explosion at a steel plant in Rotherham.

The steel giant, based in Millbank, London, was fined £180,000 with costs of nearly £83,000 after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how the 49-year-old worker from Rotherham suffered life threatening injuries in the incident on 09 March 2012.

It is understood a control system fault caused 25 tonnes of molten metal to spill from a furnace at Tata Speciality Steel's premises in Aldwarke Lane, Rotherham.

The worker and a colleague began to hose water onto the spilled metal to cool it down. However, once the water made contact, a huge explosion occurred and the worker was covered in molten metal.

The man was rushed to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma in a specialist burns unit.

He required numerous skin grafts and reconstructive surgery to his eyes, ears and forehead. He has since returned to work, but cannot work in any high-temperature areas.

The court was told a few weeks prior to the incident, a fire had damaged the furnace control system which required a temporary fix until new parts were fitted.
-- Advertisement --
hss



On the day of the incident, an electrician was asked to remove the workaround as it was though the fault had been fixed.

Prior to the explosion, molten metal was being poured from the furnace into a ladle underneath for the first time since the removal of the temporary fix.

As the metal poured, an alarm activated, locking the furnace into position. A furnace worker tried the emergency return, which should have returned the furnace and stopped the molten metal discharging, but this failed.

After the ladle had been filled and automatically moved away, the furnace continued to discharge a further 25 tons of molten metal into a pit below.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found 'serious' safety failings by Tata.

It discovered the company has no procedures for dealing with spillages of molten metal, no assessment of the dangers and risks had been carried out and there was no safe system of work in place.

HSE concluded this led to a situation where it became normal practice for workers to hose water onto spills. However, molten metal will explode if water penetrates the surface, a risk well known within the industry.

HSE Inspector Denise Fotheringham said: "This was a horrific incident that left a worker with life-changing injuries, which have had a devastating impact on him and his family. Tragically, it could have been avoided had Tata assessed the risks of dealing with molten metal spillages.

"The company's business is to make steel, but they had no procedures for dealing with these spillages, leading to employees using hoses to cool the metal. This was very dangerous but the scale of risk had not been recognised by workers, who had received no other information or instruction on what to do.

"The resulting explosion was massive and a man nearly lost his life. He remains badly-scarred by what happened that day.

"Tata no longer uses water to cool spillages and the risk has been eliminated. If the company had done this prior to the incident, this worker and his family would not be where they are today."

(LM/CD)

Latest Construction News

11/04/2025
Demolition work has commenced at Darwen Youth Centre as part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment that will significantly expand and enhance the facility. Bolton-based contractor Seddon is delivering the project, which will see the centre on Gary Aspden Way double in size, adding a new first floo
11/04/2025
Salford City Council has approved plans for a state-of-the-art Acoustics building, set to become a key part of Crescent Salford's innovation zone. The world-class facility will serve as the new home for the University of Salford's Acoustics Department, supporting research, commercial activities an
11/04/2025
Travelodge has opened the doors to a new 113-room hotel in Chiswick, West London. Situated adjacent to Chiswick Roundabout, the new hotel has created 20 new jobs for the local community. London Chiswick Travelodge is ideally located for both business and leisure travellers. Situated just a short di
11/04/2025
Salford City Council has approved plans to create a network of riverside walking and cycling routes connecting Salford Quays to the city centre, transforming an 8km stretch of the River Irwell into a vibrant and accessible urban park. The plans, which were shaped by a public consultation held at th
11/04/2025
Avant Homes has unveiled plans to transform the 49-acre former Burtons clothing factory site in Burmantofts, Leeds, into a new sustainable community. The development, named Montague Place in honour of Sir Montague Burton, the founder of the Burtons factory in 1921, is set to breathe new life into
11/04/2025
Proteus Waterproofing has appointed Tom Rae as its new Marketing Manager. He brings a wealth of experience in strategic marketing, brand development and business growth, and will play a key role in strengthening the company’s presence in the waterproofing industry. With more than 15 years of mark
10/04/2025
Network Rail has appointed Skanska to undertake the replacement of the Clifton Bridge near Penrith, Cumbria. The £43 million contract involves designing, constructing, and installing a new 130-metre single-span steel bridge to replace the existing structure that carries the West Coast Main Line ov
10/04/2025
Mace has been appointed by JP Morgan Asset Management to redevelop 65 Gresham Street, one of the largest building reuse projects in the City of London. The project will transform the existing structure into over 36,800 square metres of Grade A office, retail and ancillary spaces.​ Emphasisi
10/04/2025
Bristol City Council has announced the closure of Bathurst Swing Bridge for a comprehensive refurbishment, a project expected to last up to two years. The iconic bridge, constructed in 1905, connects Wapping Road and Cumberland Road to Commercial Road in the Harbourside area. Originally designed to
10/04/2025
​QuikSTATS, a subsidiary of Kier Group, has secured a contract with National Highways to provide underground utilities mapping services across England's strategic road network. The contract, valued at up to £9 million, spans three years with an option for a one-year extension. This agreement
BRICOFLOR UKStuart CanvasLakeside HireAqua Direct LtdT & D Glazing And Installation LimitedEfco UK LtdGolmar Systems UK Ltd.BAM Construction Training LtdLuxury Tiles U.KPerfect View Aerial Filming