Food Recycling Company Fined Over £500,000 After Explosion Severely Injures Two Workers

A food recycling company has received an order to pay a sum exceeding £500,000 following a significant gas explosion. This incident resulted in one employee undergoing a leg amputation and another being hospitalized for a period of two months. Tomasz Patek and Robert Tyrko sustained severe, life-altering injuries at the BioDynamic facility in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, on 20 September 2017. The force of the explosion propelled them airborne, and a slurry tank was observed launching from the ground before descending again. Following the explosion, Mr. Tyrko required a leg amputation. Authorities commented that it was “remarkable” that no fatalities occurred. The company acknowledged multiple deficiencies in health and safety protocols and received a fine of £304,500 at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday. Additionally, it was mandated to cover costs amounting to £229,988. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Mr. Patek and Mr. Tyrko were engaged in cutting and replacing pipework atop the 11-meter-high tank, which contained waste slurry. Sparks from the grinder or heat particles are believed to have ignited flammable gases, triggering the explosion. The court was informed that the company lacked authorization for these tanks, which were not included in the site’s initial design plans. The directors of BioDynamic had depended on external expertise to guarantee the company’s adherence to legal requirements. Although the firm possessed an environmental permit, it had failed to comply with the specified conditions of that permit. Judge Michael Auty KC characterized the explosion as an “accident waiting to happen,” stating that it had permanently changed the lives of two innocent individuals. The court was informed that Mr. Tyrko will require an additional leg amputation as his treatment progresses, and he is now dependent on a wheelchair. The judge noted that Mr. Tyrko, who also sustained a fractured skull in the blast, is no longer able to engage with his three sons in the manner he desires. In a statement issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Mr. Tyrko commented: “I lose my patience very quickly. I attended appointments with a psychologist because I had nightmares that I was still having this accident.” The court was told that Mr. Patek’s life was similarly “altered irretrievably,” and there is a possibility he may never fully recover. Following being thrown from an elevated working platform, Mr. Patek fell to the ground and spent two months hospitalized. He stated: “After the accident, I was unable to recover emotionally.” He added: “I did not realise what had happened and was in deep shock.” The judge informed the court that the former BioDynamic employee was compelled to rely on his savings, and his partner was “forced to give up work.” The court learned that the firm exhibited a “cavalier and reckless approach” to health and safety, neglecting to provide a secure working environment for its employees, contractors, and visitors, and failing to adequately train staff. Although the directors had depended on others to guarantee the company and its operations were legally compliant, Mr. Auty stated that numerous failures in this particular case “required in fact very little by way of expertise.” He elaborated that these failures instead demanded “consideration, pause for thought, openness and dare I say, plain common sense and respect.” The court was informed that the directors expressed “genuinely remorseful” sentiments and that the company had resolved a civil claim with one victim, with another claim still in progress. BioDynamic, a company with an annual turnover reported by the court to be under £4 million, is required to pay the fine over a five-year period. A company spokesperson issued a statement: “After co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency during a lengthy investigation, the company are grateful that this matter has finally been brought to a close after seven years and would wish to extend its deepest sympathies to both Mr Tyrko and Mr Patek.” Readers can follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. This content is copyrighted by the BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.