OIL giant Shell has been fined £100,000 following an explosion inside a chemical tanker. The driver was knocked over by the force of the blast, which happened as he was filling up at Shell Chemical UK's Stanlow complex. Chester Crown Court heard the firm had ignored its own safety advice relating to the handling of the volatile chemical, toluene. And Shell's barrister admitted a series of mistakes meant this was 'an accident waiting to happen'. Shell Chemicals UK pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations. On top of the fine, it must pay nearly £20,000 costs. Prosecuting, Simon Parrington said: 'The explosion was on April 8, 2003, and occurred because of deficiencies in Shell's loading system. 'They used filter socks [on the loading pipe] despite the filter system being fraught with danger. 'The firm's own guidelines set out the precautions. 'By discharging toluene at full speed into an unsuitable tanker, it created a flammable atmosphere. 'It was almost inevitable this would ignite the toluene and cause an explosion.' Tanker driver Vance James, who was atop the vehicle at the time, was knocked over by the blast. He and booking-in clerk Piers Picton, who was nearby, were not seriously hurt. But both were shaken and needed time off work with stress. The fire was contained to the tanker and extinguished by on-site sprinklers and Shell's own fire crew. Mr Parrington added: 'The company exposed these two men and others on the site to danger. Shell ignored its own advice and best practice. 'Toluene is highly flammable and electrostatic charges might be generated while handling it.' Defending, Graham Morrow said: 'It was Shell's fault that the supervisor, a Mr Maloney, didn't have the sufficient knowledge for this. It was an accident waiting to happen. 'This was careless rather than reckless or deliberate.' Speaking after the case, Stanlow general manager Ken Rivers said: 'We responded quickly after the event and have co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive. 'Several measures have been put into place to ensure the problem will not reoccur. 'We regret the incident and our learning from it has been noted and shared with other producers.' | 
