Details for Case No.4652333
| Details for Case No. 4652333 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Defendant | Shell U.K. Limited | ||
| Description | The wall thickness of the hydrocarbon containing pipework deteriorated to such an extent due to local corrosion mechanism that it failed. A temporary spool installed to allow de-oiling and which was planned to be removed after two weeks, was left in situ for further seven years, until failure and release of hydrocarbons into a known confined space. The preventive maintenance frequency for a safety critical equipment namely extract fan was changed from annual to two yearly. The number and severity of the maintenance correctives indicated an increase in the intervention frequency rather than a decrease. Fan belts of unknown quality not recommended by the original equipment manufacturer were used on critical fans including extract fan, these belts sometimes slipping, causing the fans to trip, and not function and turning tripped fans into avoidable ignition sources, and as a result of these failures, a major release of two-phase hydrocarbon estimated to contain 200kg of gas and 1,550kg of crude oil, when gas was initially detected was allowed to accumulate inside a known confined space, with the potential to escalate into a fire or explosion on ignition, causing significant risks to persons on the installation and to said installation. | ||
| Offence Date | 19/05/2017 | ||
| Total Fine | £559,999.98 | Total Costs Awarded to HSE | £0.00 |
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Breaches involved in this Case |
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| Location of Offence | |||
| Address | Scotland |
Region | Scotland |
| Local Authority | Aberdeen City UA | ||
| Industry | Extractive and utility supply industries | ||
| Main Activity | 06100 - EXTRACTION OF CRUDE PETROLEUM | ||
| Type of Location | |||
| HSE Details | |||
| HSE Group | EDU3OFFS | HSE Directorate | Energy Division |
| HSE Area | HSE Division | Scotland | |