The company operating Northampton’s Carlsberg brewery has been fined £3 million over an ammonia leak which killed one worker and caused another to be admitted to intensive care.
Northampton-based Carlsberg Supply Company UK – now called CMBC Supply – pleaded guilty to three breaches of health and safety laws at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in March 2020.
The leak – which took six days to contain – caused an “explosive release” of gas which left around 20 other workers also needing treatment.
Passing sentence on Tuesday 28 June, High Court judge Mr Justice Picken said: “Carlsberg admits these failings, specifically a failure to ensure the health and safety, so far as was reasonably practicable, of employees and non-employees alike.
“In this case, the material risk to which employees and non-employees were exposed was the risk to health and safety from the possible escape of ammonia.
“A large number of people were exposed to that risk. Had appropriate isolations been in place… the incident would not have occurred.”
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The judge – who also made a costs order for £90,000 – said the company had taken steps to remedy deficiencies, shown a high level of co-operation, has no previous convictions and boasts a “positively good health and safety record” at the site.
Mr Justice Picken added: “I take all of this into account in deciding on the appropriate sentence in this case. In doing so, I am acutely aware that no sentence can bring Mr Chandler back.”
In a statement issued after the sentencing, Paul Davies, the CEO of Carlsberg Supply Company UK, said: “We deeply regret the tragic incident which occurred at our Northampton brewery in November 2016 and resulted in the death of David Chandler and injury to David Beak.
“We strive to attain and maintain the highest standards of health and safety management for our employees. Through our guilty plea to the charges and much earlier acceptance of responsibility, we recognise that on this occasion we did not meet these high standards.
“All remedial measures have since been taken and lessons learnt. As a company, we will continue to put health and safety at the forefront of how we operate.”
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