A COMPANY which released a harmful greenhouse gas into the air while working at a south Essex port has been ordered to pay more than £21,000 by a court.
Schneider Electric had been installing equipment at the DP World London Gateway port, in Stanford-le-Hope, when it released sulphur hexafluoride, known as SF6, and failed to recover the gas.
Faults with the circuit breaker equipment were found to be responsible for the release of gas.
During installation, a metallic strip, known as a busbar, that joins two circuit breakers together was found to be faulty and needed to be removed.
When the operation to remove to the busbars took place, up to 15kg of SF6 was released into the air.
At a hearing at Basildon Magistrates’ Court, Romma Horeesorun, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said the highly potent greenhouse gas will remain in the atmosphere for decades.
She explained that 15kg of the gas caused the equivalent environmental damage of flying a 737 jet from Heathrow to Sydney, Australia, and back three times.
Ms Horeesorun told magistrates that Schneider Electric did not generate any documents, such as method statements or risk assessments, in relation to SF6.
When the operation to remove to the busbars took place, up to 15kg of SF6 was released into the air.
At a hearing at Basildon Magistrates’ Court, Romma Horeesorun, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, said the highly potent greenhouse gas will remain in the atmosphere for decades.
She explained that 15kg of the gas caused the equivalent environmental damage of flying a 737 jet from Heathrow to Sydney, Australia, and back three times.
Ms Horeesorun told magistrates that Schneider Electric did not generate any documents, such as method statements or risk assessments, in relation to SF6.
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