Prosecutions

Veolia fined £3m after worker died while dismantling North Sea gas rig

By Kerry Reals on 30 July 2024

A recycling company has been fined £3 million in relation to the death of one worker and the serious injury of another when part of a gas rig fell on them while they were carrying out decommissioning work.

Stephen Picken, aged 62, and Mark Kumar were working as demolition operatives for Veolia ES (UK) at an onshore facility in Great Yarmouth on 17 October 2019. The two men were dismantling a North Sea gas rig when a 27-tonne piece of overhanging metal pipework gave way and struck the mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) in which they were working.

The pipework gave way and struck a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), killing one worker and injuring another. Photograph: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The workers fell 12 metres to the ground. Mr Picken died at the scene and Mr Kumar suffered “life-changing” injuries, said the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which investigated the incident. The investigation found “serious failings” with the planning and risk assessment for the works, and HSE said that the company did not risk-assess the removal of the pipework because it had considered it to be a low-risk activity.

“This incident, in an emerging industry, highlights the levels of controls required to safely demolish what are large, dangerous structures,” said HSE inspector David King. “Veolia did not meet these standards and tragically one life was lost, and another forever changed.”

Veolia, of Pentonville Road, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Ipswich Crown Court on 22 July. The company was fined £3 million and ordered to pay £60,000 in costs.