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US$3.8 million fine for tragic death of 鈥渕uch loved鈥� demolition worker
23 July 2024
Reports have emerged that decommissioning and waste management company Veolia Environmental Services Ltd has been fined 拢3 million (US$3.87 million) by a court in the United Kingdom, for health and safety violations that led to the death of a demolition worker in 2019.
(PHOTO: Ministry of Justice/GOV.UK)
According to local media outlets in the East Anglia region of the country, Ipswich Crown Court yesterday (Monday 22 July) issued the multi-million-pound fine to Veolia at a sentencing hearing.
The reported that Veolia had previously admitted health and safety failings that contributed to the death of 62-year-old Stephen Picken, who died on the morning of October 17, 2019, whilst carrying out dismantling works to a decommissioned oil and gas rig at the Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour port.
Stephen - a specialist in cutting metals with oxy-propane equipment, and his colleague, Mark Kumar, were working in a vehicle-mounted aerial platform at a height of roughly 45 ft (14 m).
As Stephen was cutting the rig, a large piece of metal fell from above. The object struck the platform, 鈥渃atapulting the men off鈥� and down to the ground.
While his colleague suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the incident, Stephen died at the scene and his death was later ruled an accident at an inquest at the Norfolk Coroner鈥檚 Court.
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It has been reported that at yesterday鈥檚 sentencing hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Martyn Levett said: 鈥淚t was a foreseeable accident that could have been avoided鈥�, and that there were failings that fell far short of the standards recognised in the decommissioning industry.
The court had also heard that 鈥渘o cutting plans had been produced for the work being undertaken, to show where, how and what angle to make cuts during the demolition鈥�.
In addition to the 拢3 million fine, Judge Levett also ordered Veolia to pay costs amounting to 拢60,000 (US$78,000).
He added that a financial penalty 鈥渃annot put a price on the life of a much loved man鈥�, and offered his condolences to Stephen鈥檚 family.
Veolia comments on court ruling
reached out to Veolia for comment and Richard Hulland, Veolia Chief Risk & Assurance Officer, said: 鈥淲e are devastated by the event that occurred at our Great Yarmouth decommissioning facility in 2019.
鈥淥ur thoughts remain with the family of Stephen Picken who sadly died and with Mark Kumar, who was seriously affected by the accident.
鈥淪tephen and Mark were both hugely talented members of the team and well regarded by all who knew and worked with them.鈥�
Richard added: 鈥淭he judge commented on Veolia鈥檚 good safety record in this field and accepted our guilty plea, and we acknowledge the court鈥檚 findings.鈥�
鈥淰eolia takes health and safety very seriously and following our own investigation we have implemented a number of measures to prevent anything similar from happening again.
鈥淲e have fully cooperated with the Health and Safety Executive and we will continue to support the HSE on improving safety within the decommissioning sector.鈥�
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