Total Fined £1.4m Following Death of Immingham Refinery Worker

Oil Firm Total have been hit with a £1.4m fine after a major fire led to the death of a worker at an oil refinery in North Lincolnshire.

24-year-old Robert Greenacre from Grimsby was working near a crude oil distillation unit just before the blaze broke out at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Immingham back in 2010.

He'd been working on a pipe, along with another colleague, when around 10 tonnes of hot crude oil gushed out. It led to an explosion and fire and resulted in him suffering fatal injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted the oil giant after an investigation found a fire was caused by an uncontrolled release of crude oil.

Hull Crown Court heard today that Mr Greenacre who was a contracted fitter was working with a colleague beneath a distillation column containing hot crude oil. The job required them to open equipment beneath the column. When an item of equipment was opened, the crude oil was released. A short time later it ignited. Mr Greenacre’s colleague was able to escape the scene suffering minor burns, Robert did not escape and died beneath the column.

The court also heard operators of major accident hazard establishments must have in place a functioning system of risk assessment for all tasks where hazardous substances could be released.

Speaking following sentencing, Mr Greenacre’s family said:

“Despite the outcome of this case, it doesn’t change how we have been affected. Rob was our world. We have been left with a shattered and empty future, we are heart broken and changed forever.”

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector John Moran said:

“If Total had followed well established principles of risk assessment this major fire and the subsequent fatal injury to Robert Greenacre could have been easily prevented.

“Although the accident arose from a simple task, the magnitude of the risk was great. The risk should have been identified before the task started, and action taken to either eliminate or control it. This did not happen.

“Total UK Limited as operator in control of a major accident hazard establishment fell far short of the standard required of them.

• “This tragic incident should serve as a reminder to all such operators that if they fail to assess the risks associated with even simple and routine maintenance tasks, the consequences can be severe, and irreparable to the people involved and their families.”*

A Total spokesperson told us:

"Total UK Limited deeply regrets the accident in 2010 and wishes to repeat its profound sorrow and regret to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Robert Greenacre who died during the incident at the Lindsey Oil Refinery site.

"Total has worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive during their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident and have fully cooperated to provide them with all the necessary information. Following findings from the investigation, immediate improvements were made including a re-design of piping, the implementation of revised systems and procedures and the provision of additional training to prevent such an accident occurring in the future.

"We remain committed to ensuring the Safety of our employees and contractors and we are continuously reviewing and improving our Safety, Health and Environmental risk management practices and procedures across the whole of our operations."