By Workmen receive horrific injuries working at Phillips 66
Phillips 66 are in court following an incident where two workmen received horrific burns and injuries on site in South Killingholme, after being blasted by superheated steam.
Apprentice Scott Irvine, from Immingham, needed special care for 19 months following his injuries, as he suffered 60 per cent burns from the the 400C jet of steam.
Mr Irvine says he was thrown across scaffolding by the sheer force of the blast at the South Killingholme refinery.
Supervisor Dene Leggett, also from Immingham, suffered 40 per cent burns.
A court heard how an “act of stupidity” and “complacency” led the technician into wrongly believing that a faulty valve had been isolated, giving him a “false sense of security” about the situation.
Phillips 66 admitted two offences brought by the Health and Safety Executive at Grimsby Crown Court.
One offence involved failing to ensure that those on site were not exposed to significant risks to their health and safety.
The incident occurred after a valve which had been closed at the Humber Refinery, near South Killingholme, led to a build-up of steam in the area of a turbine that was not operating properly.
A general system of safety procedures had not been in place, and both men suffered life-changing injuries.
Mr Irvine required needed skin grafts and was put into an induced coma in hospital.
He told the court that although he was uncomfortable with putting a bad word out about the company:
“I was incapacitated by the accident and was left disabled.
“I still only mobilise with crutches.
David Brooke QC, prosecuting, told the court:
“Systems were not sufficiently being adhered to.
“It’s the company’s duty to ensure that people protect themselves from acts of stupidity.”
Mr Brooke later described Mr Leggett’s actions as “complacency” and said that the technician had been sacked for gross misconduct.
David Travers QC, mitigating, said that the company failed to ensure the safety of Mr Irvine and everyone at the refinery deeply regretted the injuries he suffered.
It is said that the company is keen to learn lessons from the accident and to continue to rebuild its reputation as a leader in safety performance in its industry.
Mr Travers added:
“It has good systems and does take its obligations seriously.
“The Humber Refinery is the safest refinery in the country and operates at an exceedingly high level globally.
“This is a dangerous place that is operated in a consistently safe way.
Mr Travers admitted: “These two men could have been killed.”
Despite being hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Phillips 66 have recently donated more than £40,000 to charities supporting victims of domestic abuse.
A total of £26,900 went to the Blue Door, a service in Grimsby which supports anyone who has experienced domestic abuse in North East Lincolnshire. £13,450 went to to Hull Women’s Aid.
The company also donated thousands of pieces of PPE to staff at Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in order to support them during the coronavirus outbreak, and £1,000 to the Blue Light Brigade, so that one of its loaned vans was properly insured and on the road.
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