Construction firm fined after "weak" pipes cause explosion (From Borehamwood Times)
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London Concrete Pumping Limited, Elstree Way, fined after "weak" pipes cause explosion
11:28am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Anna Slater
The ruptured pipe sprayed concrete debris over the street, shattering part of a police car's window
A Borehamwood construction firm has been fined after a pipe exploded, shattering part of a police car's window and leaving a passer-by with head injuries.
London Concrete Pumping Limited pleaded guilty for “poorly maintaining” equipment at Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday.
The Elstree Way firm were fined £8,000 and ordered to pay just under £31,000 in costs after the incident on May 24, opposite Wellington Barracks near Buckingham Palace.
The court heard the firm were using “weak” pipes that had not been replaced, despite being ordered to do so months before by the Health and Safety Executive.
When the pipe ruptured, it sprayed concrete debris at high velocity over the street, causing a woman to be hospitalised and damaging part of a police car’s rear window.
The explosion occurred on the same day that US President Obama arrived at Buckingham Palace for a three-day stay with The Queen.
HSE Inspector Andrew Verrall-Withers said: “It’s simply not acceptable for firms to show the level of disregard to people’s safety that London Concrete Pumping demonstrated here.
“Its failure to carry out effective maintenance on its plant and equipment meant the company put others at risk and ultimately led to a person being injured.
