A COMPANY has been fined £50,000 for a huge petrol leak which could have caused a catastrophic explosion in West Thurrock More than 2,000 litres of fuel was spilt at the Vopak oil depot in Oliver Road in July 2007 after a safety mechanism failed.

A video of the incident played at Basildon Crown Court showed workers wading through the liquid, unaware that the movement could have ignited a huge explosion.

It happened when a delivery driver stopped at the depot to fill up his tank and an automatic cut-off valve failed.

That caused the petrol to spill out of the lorry and on to the forecourt.

Ruth Barber, prosecuting on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, said: “Although the driver was wearing anti-static footwear even a small piece of gravel caught in his shoe could have sparked a huge explosion.”

Miss Barber explained that the risk was compounded by a failure to connect a lead which would have earthed the lorry, and by the movement of a second vehicle brought in to drain away the excess fuel from the lorry.

James Ageos, mitigating on behalf of Vopak, said the company’s employees had worked to minimise the danger but coating the area in a foam blanket.

He said the company was using industry-standard equipment which had suffered a “highly unusual” malfunction.

He said the company has an exemplary health and safety record and that it had gone to great lengths since the incident to re-train staff about the dangers highlighted by the case.

He explained that up to 350 tankers visit for 364 days a year, and that this was an isolated breach of health and safety rules.

Judge Alan Saggerson said it was clear the company took its responsibilities very seriously.

But he added it was also apparent the alarm system and response to the spill was inadequate.

He said: “Although there was no fire, explosion, and case of personal injury, the potential for catastrophe was manifest.”

The company admitted a charge of failing to take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents and limit consequences to persons in that environment.

In addition to the fine it was ordered to pay £19,136 costs.