Cement explosion results in fine for Peterhead company
EXT01 – D01
A cement storage company has been fined £14,000 at Peterhead
Sheriff Court for failures which resulted in an explosion of cement
powder affecting both residential and commercial properties up to
two kilometres away from the site.
CEBO UK Limited, based at ASCO South Base Oil Marine Base in
Peterhead, pled guilty to two failures to comply with their
Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit. The first failure
related to a condition in the permit which stated that all
emissions to air from shall be free from visible matter and fallout
of particulate matter beyond the boundary wall. The second was a
failure to adequately maintain and control a permitted
installation. The matter was investigated by the Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and reported to the Procurator
Fiscal.
The incident occurred on 28 May 2008 and resulted in
approximately five tonnes of cement powder being released into the
atmosphere. This cement was deposited on roadways, adjacent
buildings, vessels, vehicles and people in the vicinity of the
site. During follow up investigations silo maintenance records were
checked which revealed that tests on the silo were not up-to-date
and it should not have been in use after February 2008. The hatch
lid retaining brackets were badly corroded and were in a poor state
of repair which had contributed to the operational failure of the
silo.
SEPA's investigating officer, Martyn Howie, said:
"This incident was both serious and avoidable, serious in that a
large amount of cement powder was forcibly ejected into the
atmosphere causing widespread pollution and avoidable through the
correct and timeous maintenance of the silo by CEBO UK Limited"
"It should be remembered that although in common use, cement is
an aggressive powder which can cause harm to both the environment
and human health and damage to property. The scale of this incident
cannot be understated. Not only were a number of people working on
and around the South Base exposed to cement dust, but a significant
number of complaints were received from local residents and
businesses regarding cement deposits on property, gardens and
vehicles indicating wider exposure to the dust."
"This incident should serve as a reminder to operators of SEPA
licensed sites that regular maintenance is vital and that the
operation of sites to best available techniques is a requirement
not an option."
SEPA's Colin Bayes, Director of Environmental Protection and
Improvement said:
"We want to help people avoid pollution and advice on how to do
that is easily available from our staff, offices and www.sepa.org.uk. The NetRegs website,
www.netregs.gov.uk,
also offers clear guidance on environmental rules and regulations.
However, where pollution is significant or persistent, or is as a
result of wilful or negligent actions, SEPA will use its
enforcement powers to protect the environment for the benefit of
all of Scotland's citizens.
"However, if a pollution incident occurs, we urge anyone to let
us know straight away by calling our 24 hour pollution report line,
0800 80 70 60, giving as many details as possible so effective
action can be taken."
Ends
Notes to editors
The exact charge CEBO UK Limited pled guilty to was
- On 28 May 2008 at ASCO South Bay Marine Base, Peterhead,
Aberdeenshire you CEBO UK LIMITED BEING A COMPANY REGISTERED IN
SCTLAND UNDER COMPANY NUMBER SC059507, being a permit holder in
terms of regulation 6 of the aftermentioned regulations did fail to
comply with a condition of said permit which stated that all
emissions to air from the permitted installation shall be free from
visible emissions of particulate matter and fallout of particulate
matter beyond the site boundary (as specified in Condition 2.6.1 of
permit number PCC/N/30037) in the you did fail to adequately
maintain and control a permitted installation, namely a cement silo
there and in particular (a) did allow the retaining arm of the silo
lid to become severely corroded, (b) did fail to provide access to
said silo lid this preventing it from being inspected, maintained
and repaired and as a consequence said silo lid failed and was
propelled into the air and a substantial quantity of cement powder
was deposited into the air and beyond the site boundary, all to the
danger of the lieges, and Norman Paterson Willox, your employee was
injured: CONTRARY to the Pollution Prevention and Control
(Scotland) Regulations 2000 Regulation 30(1)(b) as amended, and the
Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 Section 2