A company has been prosecuted after a worker was injured at an energy from waste (EfW) site in Stockton-On-Tees.

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery Tees Valley Ltd of SUEZ House Maidenhead Berkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £220,000 with more than £12,695 in costs.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the employee was tasked to clear a blockage at the EfW site at Haverton Hill on 17 October 2014.

Following a blockage on one of the plant's lines, the victim opened two hatches on a chute which takes the burnt waste away. He used a metal pole to dislodge the blockage, causing the waste to drop into a pit filled with water. However, a plume of hot ash and steam erupted from the hatches, causing severe burns to the man's upper body and face as he turned to escape.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found SUEZ failed to adequately consider the risk that workers were exposed to during this task. The system of work in place wasn't sufficient to stop the incident happening, while the company was also found to have failed to implement appropriate systems to manage and supervise this workplace activity. This meant the limited measures they had put in place were not followed.

HSE inspector Victoria Wise said: "Problems often occur in production and it is essential that companies recognise and understand them to prevent them happening or introduce engineering controls and systems of work that prevent people being injured."

(LM/MH)