A demolition firm has been fined for safety failings after an employee suffered serious burns when a gas pipe ignited in his face.

The employee, 37, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was carrying out demolition work at a warehouse in Burton-on-Trent when he cut into a metal gas pipe that ignited in his face. He received serious burns to his face and forearms.

He was taken to the local Queens Hospital and later transferred to the burns unit at Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was treated over two days.

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The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted his employers, Birstall Demolition and Plant Services Ltd of Birstall, West Yorkshire, after an investigation revealed that the incident could have been prevented if his employers had undertaken basic checks to ensure the pipe was safe.

HSE told Burton-on-Trent Magistrates’ Court on Friday 25 May, how the worker could have died in the incident at Centrum 100 Business Park, Burton on Trent on 16 June 2010.

The court heard he was using an angle grinder to remove hardware from a mezzanine area when he cut into a metal gas pipe, unaware it was still live. It then ignited sending flames into his face and forearms.

Birstall Demolition and Plant Services Ltd of Gelderd Road, Birstall, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,256.

(CD/GK)