HSE issued Crown Censure over burns injury at its Buxton lab

The incident occurred in October last year when a prototype hydrogen storage vessel was being tested to determine if the design would be suitable for its intended use, HSE said.

While filling the vessel, a connector failed and a quantity of hydrogen escaped under pressure. The hydrogen ignited and the HSE employee sustained burns.

An investigation into the incident by HM Inspectors of Health and Safety concluded that the pressure testing went wrong because of failings to assess, plan, manage and control a well-known risk of death or serious injury. The investigation team said the incident could have been prevented by putting in place recognised control measures.

HSE chief executive Richard Judge said: “As chief executive of HSE, and on behalf of my colleagues on the management moard and the HSE Board, I very much regret this incident happened, and especially that our colleague was injured. On this occasion, we did not meet the standards we expect of others and that is deeply disappointing. HSE accepts the Crown Censure.

As a government body, HSE cannot face prosecution in the same way as private or commercial organisations and a Crown Censure is the maximum sanction a such a body can receive.

While there is no financial penalty associated with Crown Censure, once accepted there is an official record of a failing to meet the standards set out in law.