Garage fined £20k after mechanic suffers fatal burns

11:45am Saturday 5th July 2008

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A Twickenham garage has been fined £20,000 after one of its workers burned to death.

Alexanders of Twickenham, a car MOT, service and repair business, was found guilty at City of London Magistrates' Court for failing to ensure the safety of its employees.

“This is a case where a man died as a result of serious injuries suffered after working with woefully inadequate equipment and it is shocking the employer had not realised the danger created by petrol being moved and stored in open containers near obvious sources of ignition."

HM Inspector of Health and Safety Andrew Withers

In addition to the fine, the maximum possible, the court ordered the garage to pay costs of £16,905 on June 25.

On December 12, 2005, mechanic Biagio Malacaria was draining fuel from a vehicle. During the process his overalls were set alight and he was engulfed in flames.

The fire was extinguished by two colleagues, one of whom was injured in the process and Mr Malacaria was taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

He died from pneumonia as a result of his injuries on January 6, 2006.

HM Inspector of Health and Safety Andrew Withers, prosecuting, said: "This is a case where a man died as a result of serious injuries suffered after working with woefully inadequate equipment and it is shocking the employer had not realised the danger created by petrol being moved and stored in open containers near obvious sources of ignition.

"The company failed in its duties in a number of ways including having no risk assessment for fire and explosions, a lack of safety measures and failing to ensure all staff were suitably trained.

"I hope this case encourages employers to double-check their arrangements and ensure they are adequate and sensible."