A director and an employee from Temple Business Recycle Company Ltd (now in liquidation) have received a fine and a community order after pleading guilty to the illegal storage of fireworks at a unit on Pallion Industrial Estate, Sunderland.

Carol Finn, who at the time was a director of Temple Business Recycling Ltd, and Alan Teasdale, a former employee of the same company, both admitted breaching the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 and offences pertaining to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 when they appeared at Sunderland Magistrates Court on November 2nd.

Ms Finn was fined £400 and ordered to carry out 60 hours unpaid work, whilst Mr Teasdale was also fined £400 and ordered to undertake 100 hours unpaid work. 

Officers from Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service seized approximately 1,400kg of fireworks at Temple Business Recycle Ltd on 22nd September 2010. The fireworks were illegally stored at premises which had a registration to store only 250kg, a fraction of the huge amount found.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tom Capeling, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The premises had enough fireworks to have caused a major explosion in the building, potentially killing or seriously injuring anyone in or around the vicinity.

"All suppliers of fireworks must apply for a registration or licence to store fireworks safely and we carry out inspections before they are issued. There are strict regulations in place limiting the quantity, type and storage of fireworks to ensure public safety.

"The registration for the premises in question was for the storage of 250kg; however there was approximately one and a half tonnes of fireworks on the premises at the time of the inspection. There is no doubt that the suppliers were putting lives at risk and this is totally unacceptable.

"This case demonstrates that we take the illegal storage of fireworks very seriously. As we approach bonfire night we are warning other suppliers that we will be carrying out random inspections. We will prosecute anyone we find storing fireworks illegally."

 

Posted November 3rd, 2011 at 1055 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com