HSE | A chemical manufacturing company was fined £2.5 million following uncontrolled releases of corrosive acids in Essex.
Industrial Chemicals Ltd pleaded guilty to incidents on 6 January and 29 August 2020 at its West Thurrock site, where poorly maintained pipework released 300,000 L of hydrochloric acid and 87 m³ of sulphuric acid, forming toxic vapour clouds. Schools closed and communities sheltered.
Joint HSE and Environment Agency investigations found failures in pipe maintenance, safety-critical valves and protective coatings, leading to £2.4 million fines under health and safety law and £100,000 under environmental permitting regulations.
