The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has decided not to prosecute Drax Group, the owners of the largest power station in the United Kingdom, located near Selby, North Yorkshire. HSE alleged health and safety violations at the Drax plant as a result of worker exposure to wood dust and the development of asthma in five employees, but no causal link could be established.
Drax Group denies the allegations, and new information provided by the defence during legal proceedings undermined the original prosecution evidence, resulting in the HSE’s decision to drop the case. During an investigation, Drax Group was served with two improvement notices, which they complied with.
A HSE spokesperson said: “This has been a lengthy and exhaustive investigation into a complex regulatory area. As part of the legal disclosure process, new information surfaced at the end of last year, which the HSE was obligated to evaluate. As a result of this review, there is no longer a reasonable chance of obtaining a conviction for the most serious alleged offences, and it is no longer in the public’s best interest to continue the prosecution.”
The Drax Group-operated Selby power plant has transitioned from a coal-fired power plant to one that produces energy by burning wood pellets. The health and safety investigation was initiated after five employees developed asthma and their exposure to wood dust was questioned.
The HSE review concluded that there was no longer a reasonable chance of obtaining a conviction for the most serious allegations, and that it was not in the public’s best interest to continue the prosecution. In addition, the HSE found no evidence of an ongoing risk of harm from wood dust exposure at the Drax Power Station.
Throughout the investigation, Drax Group complied with all HSE improvement notices and denied the allegations made against them. This case demonstrates the significance of workplace health and safety regulations and serves as a reminder to employers to adhere to them.
