Industrial Chemicals Ltd operates multiple sites across the UK and makes chemicals used in several industries, including agriculture, food and drink, and paper making.
The incidents occurred at its West Thurrock site.
On 6 January 2020 there was an uncontrolled release of hydrochloric acid.
An investigation by the HSE and Environment Agency found that 300,000 litres of the substance was
released via poorly maintained pipework.
“As it came into contact with the atmosphere, this created a hydrogen chloride gas cloud which spread to nearby towns. Nearby CCTV footage shows the atmosphere being engulfed in the cloud within 60 seconds,” the HSE report stated.
Hydrogen chloride is a toxic gas. Schools in West Thurrock and Chafford Hundred were advised to close, and local businesses and residents were advised to close windows and doors.
The second incident occurred on 29 August 2020, when there was an uncontrolled release of 87 cubic metres of sulphuric acid due to a crack in a pipe.
Sulphuric acid is highly corrosive and can cause lung damage if high levels are breathed in.
An investigation by HSE into the release of the sulphuric acid identified a lack of inspection and maintenance of the pipework and valves.
“The leak continued for a further two days due to the inability to operate a manual valve to stop the process,” HSE noted.
“The loss of containment was eventually stopped on 31 August 2020. Fortunately, no one was harmed.”
The joint investigation by HSE and the Environment Agency into the release of the hydrochloric acid in January 2020 found that pipework had not been installed, maintained and inspected sufficiently which led to several smaller pipe failures before the more serious loss of containment. A protective chemical-resistant coating had not been applied to the full height of containment walls.
In a hearing at Westminster Combined Court on 28 March, Industrial Chemicals Ltd was fined £2.4m in relation to charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and a further £100,000 in relation to charges under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
The firm had pleaded guilty to all the charges made in respect of the incidents.
The HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Samantha Wells, who commented: “At the sentencing hearing the judge noted the previous history of poor health and safety standards by this defendant, which included previous incidents relating to poor maintenance of pipework at this site showing a careless attitude to health and safety which was treated as an aggravating factor which uplifted the sentence imposed.”
Industrial Chemicals Ltd had sales of £187.7m in its most recent accounts, for 2023, and filed a pre-tax profit of £12.5m.
