2012 Jersey Gas Holder Fire on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The 2012 Jersey gas holder fire occurred when fire broke out at a gas holder, owned by
An investigation by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service conducted shortly after the incident determined the fire started while workers were "repairing a gas leak on the side of the holder", who were using electric tools. During this, the leaking gas ignited. The fire spread and "attacked" the joints of the holder, which caused more gas to leak out and ignite, resulting in a larger and more intense fire. Furthermore, Jersey Gas admitted to not carrying out risk assessments, not providing "a safe system of work" and providing inadequate health and safety training to its employees.
Both employees of Jersey Gas performing the repairs suffered minor burns due to the incident.
Jersey Gas
Jersey ( , ; nrf, Jèrri, label=Jèrriais ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey (french: Bailliage de Jersey, links=no; Jèrriais: ), is an island country and self-governing Crown Dependency near the coast of north-west France. It is the l ...
, on Tunnell Street, in Saint Helier, Jersey. The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service brought the fire under-control, and it burnt out during the early hours of 5 July 2012. In the aftermath of the incident Jersey Gas was fined £65,000 by the island's Royal Court and ordered to pay legal costs of £11,000.
Cause
An investigation by the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service conducted shortly after the incident determined the fire started while workers were "repairing a gas leak on the side of the holder", who were using electric tools. During this, the leaking gas ignited. The fire spread and "attacked" the joints of the holder, which caused more gas to leak out and ignite, resulting in a larger and more intense fire. Furthermore, Jersey Gas admitted to not carrying out risk assessments, not providing "a safe system of work" and providing inadequate health and safety training to its employees.
Evacuation
An area of St Helier was evacuated and cordoned off soon after the fire started. Seven near-by schools were also evacuated. Many residents who live in houses surrounding the gas holder were not allowed to return to their homes until the following day, and some sought assistance at the parish hall.Injuries
Both employees of Jersey Gas performing the repairs suffered minor burns due to the incident.
References
Jersey gas holder 2012 in Jersey Saint Helier Disasters in the Channel Islands {{Jersey-stub