“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. Three passengers perished. There was no smoke, there was no after-effects of it. An investigation is underway after four people were killed in an explosion at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth. Three employees and a contractor were killed in the accident at its water recycling plant on Thursday. We know Wessex Water treats sewage through a range of methods, including within anaerobic digesters (ADs) – systems that can break down a range of organic matter, such as animal or food waste, in the absence of oxygen to produce biosolids. Wessex Water serves 2.8 million customers across the south west of England including Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, most of Wiltshire and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire. Wessex Water. Wessex Water says the sludge is treated in anaerobic digesters - oxygen-free tanks - to produce agricultural fertiliser and renewable energy. ‘Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. It is, though, expected to examine all documents associated with the plant design and operation, through to what happened in the lead-up to the fatal explosion and its causes. The HSE has also previously reported on hazards in storage silos, advising that “good ventilation can prevent accumulations of methane in sludge storage tanks”. Login to hide this message. ASP and the HSE have so far refused to comment on what triggered the blast. A major incident has been declared after a chemical tank is believed to have exploded at Wessex Water’s water recycling centre in Avonmouth, Bristol. Four people lost their lives after an explosion at a sewage plant near Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed.. Latest News; In the last 7 days 'No cause for concern' despite 'chlorine like' tap water taste Salisbury Journal 19:01 26-Mar-21. Plants are designed to prevent explosions, over-pressurisation, asphyxiation and pollution, but accidents do happen. We are working with the HSE to understand what happened and why.” Avonmouth is home to a host of waste and recycling companies. It is understood that Mr James was a contractor working at the site, while Mr Vickery and Mr White were employees of Wessex Water and Luke was an apprentice at the firm. Wessex Water is working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the cause of the explosion. FACK statement on the fatalities caused by the explosion at Wessex Water, Avonmouth, 3 December 2020. Wessex Water said three of its members of staff were killed, along with a contractor. A spokesperson for trade association, the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) said: “Recent incidents, which might not be directly related to the AD process, have nevertheless strengthened ADBA’s resolve to ensure that the whole AD industry, which has the potential to decarbonise 6% of the UK economy by 2030 and therefore play a critical part in addressing climate change and our food and energy security, operates to high standards of safety and environmental protection.”, The spokesperson added that in recent months there had been a “significant increase” in interest around its Anaerobic Digester Certification Scheme (ADCS), which assesses the safety, environmental and operational performance of AD plants. By continuing to browse this site you agree to Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) Statement on the fatalities caused by the explosion at Wessex Water, Avonmouth 3.12.2020. This is because the site continues to be fully operational with no compliance or environmental impact. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. They added they are not speculating on how the explosion happened, but confirmed that the tank contained a solid biomass. However, a fire service spokesman was unable to confirm where on the site the bodies were found, adding that he was currently ‘unaware of the position’ of an additional casualty mentioned by police. Your email address will not be published. [18.02.2021]. The victims were believed to have been working on top of the waste water tank when it exploded and sent one body flying around 150 metres from the blast. A temporary plant has been installed to replace the damaged … We monitor all accidents and incidents reported by colleagues and, in particular, attention is paid to: ... Wessex Water Services Ltd, Registered in England No. For more stories like this, check our news page. Three of the people who died worked for the firm, and the other was a contractor. A 16-year-old boy was among four workers killed in an explosion at a waste water treatment works. The 1993 Llyn Padarn helicopter crash occurred on 12 August 1993, when an RAF Westland Wessex helicopter, serial number XR524, with 3 crew and 4 passengers (all of them Air Training Corps cadets) on board suffered a catastrophic tail rotor failure and plunged into Llyn Padarn, a lake in North Wales. With the results of an investigation into the disaster, led by Avon and Somerset Police (ASP) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), still pending, the Cable spoke with experts who expressed concern about safety standards at some waste treatment plants. Wessex N7-209 ditched on 31 May 1987 due to engine failure off Bondi Beach, NSW, while en route to Rockhampton for exercises with USS Midway. Sixteen-year old apprentice Luke Wheaton, and three workers – Ray White, Brian Vickery, and Mike James – lost their lives, and a fifth man escaped with injuries. Wessex Water employed White and Vickery, who was from Clevedon, north Somerset, and had worked at the site for 42 years. Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site earlier today has resulted in four fatalities. Four people have died and another has been injured in a large explosion at a waste water treatment works. Wessex Water plc Board The Wessex Water Board will provide leadership and oversight for health safety and welfare, confirm company policy and review performance annually. The chief executive of Wessex Water said the company was ‘devastated’ following the fatal explosion at its plant in Bristol. In this exclusive interview, a retired Avon and Somerset police officer says the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is a democratic risk and could lead to more violence. The plant was set up by Wessex Water in 2009 to operate under the name Geneco and it treats more than 700,000 tonnes of waste every year. Reporting on the stories that matter to you. GMB, the union for Wessex Water workers, has sent "hopes and prayers" to the colleagues and families of the four people killed. In the last month. We have released a statement following an incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre, at Avonmouth, on 3 December 2020. Luke Gazzard, from Avon Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident had been ‘very challenging’ and laid bare the difficult scene emergency services faced when they arrived. Management of health safety and welfare in Wessex Water January 2016 Page 4 The policy applies to all Wessex Water group employees and all wholly or majority owned UK- based subsidiary companies. “I have come across several of these systems and have had concerns over the engineering standards and compliance with DSEAR [Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations] in some of the designs, and also a lack of understanding of the flammability and explosion issues around methane gas,” Ennis said. “We are working hard to ensure that by gaining ADCS accreditation, [operators] commit to raising standards in every aspect of their operation to protect their employees, the environment and the community,” they said. Read more on: avon and somerset police, avonmouth, wessex water, Your email address will not be published. As to why blasts and spills occur, Smeaton added: “I suspect there are already safety procedures in effect, that if carefully followed would have prevented explosive conditions to exist before starting work. Tony Ennis, technical director at Haztech Consultants, is a safety specialist and expert in fires and explosions. The Bristol explosion incident has been classified as a major accident and will be investigated in depth by the authorities. We are working with the Health and Safety Executive to understand what happened and why.” Topic: Skills & workforce Tags: Contractor. Water 2 Business Limited, a joint venture between Bristol Water and Wessex Water was crowned with 'Water Retailer of the Year' at Water Industry Award (WIA) 2019. The Avonmouth explosion was horrific. The resulting ‘treated sludge’ is transferred to storage silos before being sold to farmers. But in 2017, when a container exploded at ADD firm Bio Dynamic in Nottingham, two workers were less fortunate. Tag Archives: Wessex Water. Avonmouth incident - Wessex Water statement. Wessex Water has fitted monitoring devices to 495 of its 1,018 CSOs that can discharge into rivers and inland waters. Home » Investigations » The Avonmouth explosion was horrific. 03 Dec 2020– Four people are reportedly dead and one injured in an explosion that occurred at a wastewater treatment plant at Avonmouth near Bristol in the UK.The plant is operated by Wessex Water and is used for waste water treatment and recycling. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Wessex Water confirmed it is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to find out ‘what happened and why’. 4th December 2020 Jawad Leave a comment. Biogas is produced nearby through anaerobic waste digestion by Wessex Water subsidiary, GENeco. At approximately 11.20 am on Thursday, December 3, fire service, ambulance and police were called to the scene and a major incident was declared. The OH-58 helicopter crashed near the Trans-Isthmian Highway in the vicinity of the Madden Dam water plant at about 4 p.m. EDT. A 16-year-old boy was among the four workers killed in an explosion at a waste water treatment works in England. Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, Raymond White, 57, and Luke Wheaton, 16, died in the incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth on Thursday. The fatalities included three employees of Wessex Water … Monitoring accidents and incidents. The dirty business of recycling waste, which inevitably entails producing and storing flammable gases, doesn’t come without risk. We are working with the Health and Safety Executive to understand what happened and why. Four people have died and a fifth injured in an explosion at Water Warehouse in Avonmouth earlier today (December 3). Luke was an apprentice with … Chiefe xecutive Colin Skellett said: “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. In July 2020, the HSE acted before an accident could occur, serving an enforcement notice to Sinclair Agricultural and Recycling Services (SARS) in Aberdeenshire, after the agency found the AD company had failed to protect staff from a potential explosion. The wave of dissent ongoing in Bristol looks set to continue across the UK as the Home Office’s Police and Crime Bill progresses. Read the full story here. Teenager Luke Wheaton, Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, … While not specifically referring to the Avonmouth plant, he told the Cable some UK AD systems gave cause for concern. Avonmouth incident - Wessex Water statement We have released a statement following an incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre, at Avonmouth, on 3 December 2020. I thought it must have been some sort of crash or some sort of impact or something like that. Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett said the company was “absolutely devastated” by the incident, and said it would be working with the Health and Safety Executive “to understand wha 'There is no indication of foul play, and it is being considered an accident for now,' Ormsbee said. Luke Wheaton's dad Matt has paid tribute after the Wessex Water worker was killed along with Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, and Raymond White, 57, in the explosion near Bristol At approximately 11.20 am on Thursday, December 3, fire service, ambulance and police were called to the scene and a major incident was declared. A spokesman of Wessex Water has assured the local community that they are running no risks due to this incident and that the biosolids used in these silos are “treated sludge”, a by-product of the sewage treatment process. “[A] close retrospective examination of the risk assessment at the plant will be a good start in future prevention,” said Clifford Jones, a combustion expert and visiting professor at the University of Chester. Police said three of the victims worked for Geneco’s parent company Wessex Water and the fourth was a contractor. Wessex Water said it was absolutely devastated that the tragic incident. Back in 1987, two workers were killed when a sewage digester exploded, lifting a 30-ton floating cover into the air. Chief Executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site earlier today has resulted in four fatalities. There have been “a number of casualties” after an explosion at a Wessex Water site in Avonmouth which is home to a waste water treatment facility and the Geneco recycling and renewables business this morning (3 December). Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, Raymond White, 57, and Luke Wheaton, 16, died in the incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth on Thursday. video. The centre, serving Bristol, is the biggest in the sewage treatment facility in the area, according to the Wessex Water website. Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, Raymond White, 57, and Luke Wheaton, 16, died in the incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth on Thursday. Luckily, the collapse happened in the early hours and no one was hurt. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Avonmouth explosion: Teenage boy among four killed at water treatment works. Over the last two decades, ADs have become an established feature of the waste treatment and renewable energy sectors, with 600 plants now operating or in development in the UK. Firefighters were called to Wessex Water's premises in Avonmouth, Bristol, at about 11:20 GMT. Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site earlier today has resulted in four fatalities. Wessex Water, police and fire have assured us the incident is contained, and there is no risk to your safety. Yet the huge blast at a Wessex Water waste treatment plant in Avonmouth followed a number of explosions, spillages and major incidents at similar facilities operated by other companies, in recent years. Chiefe xecutive Colin Skellett said: “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. All three soldiers in the aircraft were killed, said U.S. Southern Command spokesman William Ormsbee. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, Body language expert gives her verdict on Harry and William’s reunion at funeral, Tearful Prince Charles ‘overcome by grief’ as he bids farewell to father Philip, How Kate ‘stepped away so William and Harry could finally reunite’, Soldier collapses in the heat outside St George’s Chapel as Philip’s funeral begins, Meghan ‘is also grieving because she’s lost a family member’, friend says. The business of recycling sewage into fertiliser, and the wider wastewater treatment industry, has been chequered by explosions and industrial accidents. browser that Lady Louise, 17, and James, 13, will join their mother Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in her car to St George's Chapel while their father Prince Edward joins the procession behind the coffin. 'Kill the Bill' protest turns violent as glass bottles and eggs thrown at police, ‘Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of all those affected in today’s incident. this. Do you have any information about the investigation, working conditions and incident on 3 December 2020 at Wessex Water? Two of the men are believed to have been Wessex Water staff, the other a contractor at the site. Avon and Somerset Police said that Luke Wheaton, 16, Michael James, 64, Brian Vickery, 63, and Raymond White, 57, were all killed by a blast at Wessex Water Services. At some sites, storage tanks with steel and concrete roofs have been known to rupture and even blast off, in scenes similar to that in Avonmouth. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed there are no ‘ongoing public safety concerns’ and that the incident was not terror-related. Required fields are marked *. Sean Nolan, who witnessed the aftermath of the explosion, said he had heard a ‘boom and echo’ but thought it was a vehicle collision. Thanks to the 2,500 members who support the Cable, our in-depth journalism is free for everyone. Subscribe to the Cable newsletter to get our weekly round-up direct to your inbox every Saturday, This site uses cookies. Wessex Water Chief Executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site…has resulted in four fatalities. He said: ‘It was quite short-lived, I’d say about two or three seconds. ‘That was it. This may take many months if not years, based on inquiries following similar incidents. Learn how your comment data is processed. Clashes at 'Kill the Bill' protest see 10 officers injured and 26 people arrested, Lap dancers protest at plan to close strip clubs that threatens 100 jobs. Wessex Water employed White and Vickery, who was from Clevedon, north Somerset, and had worked at the site for 42 years. “Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. Their families have been informed. By clicking "OK" or continuing to use this site, you agree that we may collect and use your personal data and set cookies to improve your experience and customise advertising. Prince Philip's youngest son, Prince Edward, today walked among a sea of flowers at Windsor Castle. Friends and family members of the victims lay tributes at Wessex Water's recycling facility ... Luke Wheaton was tragically lost in the accident in Avonmouth yesterday morning. No Immediate Credit Impact from Avonmouth Explosion at Wessex Water Site Fri 11 Dec, 2020 - 10:33 AM ET Fitch Ratings-London-11 December 2020: The explosion on 3 December 2020 at Wessex Water Services' (WWS; BBB/Stable) final sludge processing plant in Avonmouth has no immediate rating implications, Fitch Ratings says. Thus, there have been no dangerous chemicals released in the air or anything that would cause health concerns. supports HTML5 “Managers and supervisors should be constantly aware of the hazards of workers working to get the job done rather than getting it done safely,” he said. Her three man crew and three aircraft maintainers were rescued and the Wessex remained afloat for 45 minutes until one of the flotation bags burst causing the aircraft to capsize. What was the Bristol 'Kill the Bill' protest about? We want to hear from you. The casualties were confirmed after a major incident was declared by emergency services at Wessex Water’s Bristol recycling centre in Avonmouth this morning. Get our latest stories & essential Bristol newsSent to your inbox every Saturday morning. There have been “a number of casualties” after an explosion at a Wessex Water site in Avonmouth which is home to a waste water treatment facility and the Geneco recycling and renewables business this morning (3 December). What’s at stake in the proposed legislation, how will it impact individuals and communities, and what alternatives do its opponents propose? Following Enron’s collapse, it was bought in 2002 by YTL Power International, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Police have said the explosion involved one of the plant's chemical tanks. ‘We are working with the Health and Safety Executive to understand what happened and why.’. The site is Wessex Water's largest sewage treatment works, which serves the Bristol area. After last week’s protests against the Police and Crime Bill saw heavy-handed policing and clashes with protesters, the city’s fourth demo last night went ahead peacefully with no intervention from the police. 20:17 Emma Grimshaw One source with insight into the investigation told the Cable there had been a fault with a conveyor belt connected to the silo, which was being fixed by the contractor and workers who were killed in the explosion. ‘I was thinking I hope nobody is hurt… I just started to worry instantly about the condition of whoever was involved.’, Chief Inspector Mark Runacres, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: ‘The fire service led the rescue operation but sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, we can confirm there have been four fatalities.’, ‘Specially trained officers have this afternoon made contact with all of the families of those individuals,’ he added. And in 2018, a methane buildup and protocol breaches caused separate explosions at wastewater plants in Kansas and Chicago, the latter injuring 10 workers. At a press conference on the day of the explosion, ASP’s Chief Inspector Mark Runacres said it had occurred in a silo holding treated biosolids – before being recycled as agricultural fertiliser. The director of regulation and customer services is the nominated Wessex Water group director with responsibility for health The biogas and biosolids industries have been propelled by the scramble to cap emissions, recycle waste into valuable fertiliser, and tap into profitable renewable energy alternatives. We talk to protesters who say they were brutally attacked by police at the recent protests against the Police and Crime Bill. Wessex Water was originally purchased by the US company Enron in 1998 for $2.4 billion. Four people have died in a large explosion at a waste water plant in Bristol. “If no one is injured or killed, they clean up the mess as quickly as possible.”. Four people have died in a large explosion at a waste water plant in Bristol. A major incident has been declared following the large blast at its site in Avonmouth, UK. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web Chief Executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at … He said: ‘Our initial crews attended within five minutes and in total we had six fire engines, a turntable ladder, urban search and rescue teams and two search and rescue dogs on scene. The blast happened in a silo that treated biosolids, a by-product of the sewage treatment process. Wessex Water offering free education sessions to mark World Water Day Bath Echo 09:05 18-Mar-21. Another person was also injured but their condition is not said to be life-threatening. Last year untreated sewage was … Join us and be a part of Bristol’s reader-owned media cooperative. There is also a history of explosions at US waste plants specialising in fertiliser and biogas production. A Wessex Water spokesperson described the disaster as a “tragic event”, pointing to the company’s “excellent” safety record and adding that it is working closely with the police and Health and Safety Executive to investigate what happened. A Wessex Water spokesperson described the disaster as a “tragic event”, pointing to the company’s “excellent” safety record and adding that it is working closely with the police and Health and Safety Executive to investigate what happened. Contact journalist Alon Aviram in confidence: alon@thebristolcable.org / 07533 718547, Clarification: This article was amended to clarify that Hycontrol specialises in preventing silo over-pressurisation from pneumatic deliveries. “Anaerobic digester fires and explosion[s] are […] only reported if people are killed,” US-based AD safety consultant Glenn Smeaton said of the situation across the Atlantic. Wessex Water waste treatment plant in Avonmouth, Harper Adams University in Shropshire collapsed, Anaerobic Digester Certification Scheme (ADCS), Bristol parents say employers are wrongly classing them as keyworkers to get their kids into school, We are a proud member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network. This process could again emit gases, which without sufficient ventilation, could result in an explosive atmosphere. Robert Tyrko, who had been carrying out welding work within the confined space of a pasteuriser tank connected to the AD, lost his leg while another man was injured. But it wasn’t unprecedented. Firefighters were called to Wessex Water's premises in Avonmouth, Bristol, at about 11:20 GMT. The Environment Agency, meanwhile, has found toxic spills at AD plants and associated sites have caused numerous ‘serious pollution incidents’ over the last decade, with accidents also occurring in connected storage tanks. M5 Somerset northbound severe accident, from J20 for B3133 Ettlingen Way to J19 for A369 Martcombe Road. media. ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to them.’. not be another accident, but that we aim to work for as long as possible without an injury. Geneco, wholly owned by Wessex Water, treats around 700,000 tonnes a year of waste including food waste, liquid and solid materials, to produce biofertilisers, renewable gas and electricity. 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