A fire extinguisher recycling company in Oldbury, United Kingdom, has been fined after a 37-year-old employee died in an explosion at the workplace. The incident occurred on 7 March 2023 at Fire Protection Recycling Limited, based on Pearsall Drive in Oldbury, West Midlands.
According to the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the employee was processing cartridge-type powder extinguishers at the time. One of the extinguishers suddenly released pressure and exploded, striking the employee in the head. Parts of the extinguisher were forced into the ceiling of the workroom. The employee died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from his injuries.
Missing risk assessment
HSE’s investigation found that the company had not carried out an adequate risk assessment for processing old fire extinguishers. There was no suitable system of work, storage of old extinguishers was inadequate, and no restraint system was in place to contain parts ejected during discharge.
Fire Protection Recycling Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Birmingham Magistrates’ Court fined the company £40,000 plus £17,034.25 in costs on 14 September 2026.
Regulator’s response
HSE inspector Heather Campbell stressed that the incident was preventable: the employee should have returned home safely to his family at the end of his working day, but due to the company’s failings, he did not.
Relevance for EHS professionals
This case highlights a risk relevant worldwide in virtually any sector handling pressurised equipment: reusing, processing or recycling pressure vessels and cartridge mechanisms without a full risk assessment. Under comparable occupational safety legislation in other jurisdictions, employers are similarly required to explicitly assess residual risks from pressure release, storage and physical shielding before resuming or outsourcing this type of work.
Source: Fire extinguisher recycling company fined after ‘thoughtful and kind man’ killed at work, 17 September 2026
