Yahoo News Horrifying moment worker sent flying through the air by huge gas explosion... and survives
A company has been hit with a fine after a worker was caught on CCTV being thrown into the air by a massive gas explosion, miraculously escaping unscathed. Elliot Kirk was constructing a fence on a farm in Wessington, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, when he was blown off his feet by the force of the blast.
The shocking footage shows the contractor scrambling to safety after the mechanical post knocker he was using struck an underground gas main. Fire crews and Cadent engineers were quickly on the scene to secure the area as gas spewed from the ruptured pipe, leading to the evacuation of 30 homes.
The dramatic events of June 21, 2022, were captured on a local resident's security cameras, who reported that Kirk walked away completely unharmed, albeit "He's a very lucky bloke. He was completely fine but obviously a little shook up. I can't believe he walked away uninjured, it must have come as quite a shock."
Both Belper Skip Hire Limited and contractor Kirk have now been fined for health and safety breaches at Derbyshire Magistrates Court.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the blast resulted in more than two million kilogrammes of gas being released, putting nearby homes at risk of fire and explosion. The court heard that Kirk, from Nottingham, had been installing fencing around Belper Skip Hire Limited's farm in Brackenfield Lane after being contracted by the company.
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He was using a mechanical post knocker to install the fencing when the explosion occurred. The HSE's investigation discovered that the Derby-based company had been informed about the location of the gas main.
Cadent had informed the company a month prior to the explosion that no ground-penetrating works should be conducted in the area. However, this crucial information was not relayed to Kirk, and the work was allowed to proceed.
The HSE said Kirk failed to obtain the necessary underground service diagrams and took no additional measures to verify the presence of the gas main pipe beneath the ground. Belper Skip Hire Limited admitted to violating the Health and Safety at Work Act and was subsequently fined £26,667, with an additional £3,173 in costs.
Kirk pleaded guilty to breaching construction regulations and received a fine of £800, along with £3,173 in costs. Following the incident, HSE inspector Sinead Martin stated that both Kirk and Belper Skip Hire had failed in their responsibilities, thereby putting Kirk and nearby residents at significant risk.
She added: "In this case, both Elliott Kirk and Belper Skip Hire Limited failed in their duties and, as a result, Mr Kirk and others in the vicinity were put at serious risk."
"It is extremely fortunate that this incident did not result in serious injury; had the gas ignited, the resulting explosion would have been catastrophic.
"Prior to breaking ground, contractors must take suitable steps to check for the presence of underground services.
"Commercial clients have a duty to pass on all relevant pre-construction information within their possession to contractors to enable them to manage the risks."
Alan Brown, a 62 year old married father of two and company director, recorded the alarming incident on his home security system. Recalling the event, he said: “We were on holiday down in the Cotswolds at the time, I had arranged for both my lads to water the garden.
"My wife and I were coming out of John Lewis and one of my boys called and said he can’t water the garden because the entire street was blocked off."
Brown continued: "He said there were fire engines everywhere and there had been a gas explosion so we checked out of our hotel and bombed back home.
"My wife Kim’s new car was on the drive and covered in soil and stone. Luckily it wasn't too badly damaged."
"I watched back the CCTV footage and just thought 'Jesus Christ'. The noise of the blast was incredible.
“He's a very lucky bloke. He was completely fine but obviously a little shook up. I can't believe he walked away uninjured, it must have come as quite a shock.
"I've never known anything like it but luckily nobody was hurt."
