Second prosecution in 12 months for waste firm Veolia Environmental Services

Veolia ES Cleanaway (UK) Limited was fined  £150,000 with £90,000 costs in January 2010 after it admitted breaching regulations 6(3) and 9(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 at Preston crown court on 9 December.  These concern failures to apply appropriate fire and explosion contingency measures and provide staff training, respectively.

During a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the court heard how, on 2 July 2007, a fire believed to have been started by lithium batteries, burned through 132,000 litres of chemicals and forced the closure of a neighbouring industrial estate and the M6 and M55 motorways. 

A total of 66 firefighters tackled the blaze as drums of chemical wastes exploded into the sky.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service issued three enforcement notices over breaches of fire prevention regulations.  The HSE issued an improvement notice requiring revision of site operating procedures.

This is the second major prosecution for Veolia Environmental Services in 12 months.  In January last year, the Environment Agency and HSE brought a successful joint prosecution after an incident at the firms' hazardous waste treatment plant at Bootle sent a toxic plume across Liverpool and injured four members of staff.

On this occasion, Veolia pleaded guilty to eight charges: three under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, one under the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 and four under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It was made to pay £65,000 costs on top of £101,000 in fines. Charges included failing to ensure the public were not exposed to toxic fumes and breaching conditions of its waste licence.