• Structural collapse caused release of around 2,400kg of highly flammable liquid petroleum gas.
• HSE investigation found long-standing corrosion of steel tower was not dealt with.
• Workers exposed to risk of serious injury and burns in major incident.

Esso has been fined £1 million after a major gas leak at Fawley Oil Refinery in Hampshire, following an investigation and subsequent prosecution by the Health & Safety Executive.

On 8 November 2022, there was a partial collapse of a large steel tower at the Fawley Refinery, causing the structure to slew and rupture pipework, resulting in the uncontrolled release of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The incident led to a loss of containment of approximately 2,400kg of LPG over a 33-hour period. It took just over 30 minutes for around 400kg of the gas to be released following the collapse.

Workers were in the vicinity at the time of the collapse and were exposed to the risk of serious injury from falling debris, as well as the potential for burns had the gas ignited. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Emergency measures, including the use of water curtains, were implemented to reduce the spread of the extremely flammable vapour. It took approximately 33 hours to isolate the affected process and safely vent the remaining substances to the flare system.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the structural collapse was caused by corrosion of the steel tower that had developed over many years. This corrosion had been identified as early as 2010, but the company failed to take appropriate action to control the risk.

HSE regulates major hazard industries, including oil refineries, under a range of specialist regulations aimed at preventing major accidents involving dangerous substances. This includes oversight of asset integrity, inspection regimes and the management of risks such as corrosion, which can lead to loss of containment if not properly controlled.

HSE guidance states that dutyholders must ensure the integrity of plant and pipework is maintained and that equipment is kept in a safe condition. This includes identifying and managing risks such as corrosion to prevent loss of containment of hazardous substances. Further information can be found here: Corrosion under insulation of plant and pipework v3

ESSO Petroleum Company Limited, of Ermyn House, Ermyn Way, Leatherhead, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1 million and ordered to pay £12,277 in costs at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 12 June 2026.

Amanda Huff, an Inspector in HSE’s specialist Chemicals, Explosives & Major Hazards Division, said: “This incident resulted in the uncontrolled release of a large quantity of flammable gas, which exposed workers to very real and potentially life-threatening risks.

“The underlying cause was a failure to properly manage the integrity of plant and equipment, despite corrosion being identified many years earlier.

“Workers and the wider public have every right to assume that sites processing large quantities of highly flammable chemicals are being properly managed – and it is vital for companies to make sure robust systems are in place to maintain critical infrastructure safely.

“This incident could have been far worse, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the breaches our investigation uncovered.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Andrew Siddall and paralegal officer Stephen Grabe.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance on corrosion under installation of pipe plant and pipework: https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/hid_circs/technical_general/spc_tech_gen_18.htm.
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

A construction company and its director have been fined after being found guilty of safety breaches that resulted in a five-year-old child being injured by a falling cast iron pipe.

Sage Homes Limited and its director were convicted on Monday 4 August 2025, at Southampton Crown Court, for failing to properly assess a foreseeable risk.

The incident occurred on 20 July 2021, during building work on an extension to a house in Totton – a few seconds’ walk from a local primary school. A cast iron pipe fell onto a passing child striking him on the head and fracturing his skull.

The base of the pipe had been broken away by the builder some days before to allow him to excavate into the concrete floor. When a TV cable was freed from the pipe, the top two sections of pipe, weighing over 45kg, fell across the pavement. The cast iron pipe was estimated to date from the 1930s, and both the pipe and the fixings were corroded.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Sage Homes Limited and its director, Jason Scorey, had failed to properly assess what was a foreseeable risk. In giving evidence, Mr Scorey insisted that he could see no need to secure the pipe against the wall.

HSE provides a range of guidance advice: Managing risks and risk assessment at work: Overview – HSE

On 12 September 2025, at Southampton Crown Court, Sage Homes Limited and Jason Scorey were sentenced for breaches of Section 3(1) and Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, respectively. Mr Scorey received a fine of £1,685, with 45 days’ imprisonment in default, and was ordered to pay costs of £10,436. Sage Homes Limited was fined £15,000. Both Mr Scorey and Sage Homes Limited were also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Alexander Ashen said: “Properly assessing risk to workers and members of the public is a vital part of any construction project.

“It would have been a simple and inexpensive task to secure the pipe once it had been broken out at its base. The fact that the construction work was being carried out yards from a school gate at the time parents were collecting their children should have prompted even more care on the part of the duty holder.

“This case should underline to everyone in the building trade that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to follow the regulations extremely seriously. HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies and their directors which do not do all that they should to keep people safe.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Rebecca Schwartz and paralegal officer, Melissa Wardle.

Further information

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

The investigation into last month’s incident involving a fairground ride at the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show continues.

An 18-year-old woman was injured on the evening of Saturday 26 July 2025 during the event in Hampshire. She was taken to hospital and sustained serious injuries.

HSE inspectors and amusement device specialists have visited the site as part of the ongoing probe and are now appealing for images from festivalgoers.

The ride involved in this incident was a ‘Showtime’ funhouse featuring free rollers on the upper level.

HSE principal inspector Nicola Pinckney said: “We are thoroughly investigating this serious incident to establish whether there have been any breaches of health and safety law.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have photographs or videos which cover the upper left-hand side level of the Showtime funhouse that was at the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft Show, specifically in the free rollers area, taken between 6pm and 10:25pm on Saturday 26 July to contact us. This material could assist our investigation.

“Once our investigation is complete, a decision will then be made on what further action will be taken.”

Anyone with photographic footage from the specified area and time period is asked to email HSE at [email protected] identifying in the email the location of the footage they hold and the time the footage was taken.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.

2. More information on the HSE’s Enforcement Policy Statement is available.