Hickson and Welch, Castleford

In 1992 an explosion ocurred in a distillation vessel associated with a mononitrotoluene plant at this works. The vessel had never been cleaned since its installation in the early 1960s and consequently contained a 14 deep residue of jelly-like sludge. This sludge contained flammable dinitro-toluene and nitrocresols covering one of the unit s steam heating coils. 

Five people died as a result of this and the company was fined 250 000 with 150 000 costs for failing to ensure the safety of its employees and putting them at risk of fire. 

Health and Safety Executive s report on the incident blames inadequate monitoring, safety and operating procedures and lax plant design for the explosion. So yet again we see that human error was the cause of a tragedy. 

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Hickson and Welch, Castleford, UK Runaway Reaction and Jet Fire... 

Very little information is contained in the report about Hickson s impact on the environment. No figures are reported for emissions to water or air, although they are given for hazardous waste. Specific mention is made in the report of a new effluent plant under construction at Hickson and Welch (Castleford), and the installation of a sprinkler system with fire-water storage in Italy. 

We are grateful to Hickson and Welch Ltd., Castleford, England for a Research Scholarship (for J.W.C.) and for help and interest in this work. 

The Fire at Hickson Welch Ltd." A report of the investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into the fatal fire at Hickson fit Welch Ltd., Castleford on 21 September 1992. HSE Books 1994. 

Health and Safety Executive Investigation Report, The Fire at Hickson Welch LTD, Castleford, 1994. 

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