Moment cowboy builder walks away from house he caused to explode
Barry Newman, 58, was undertaking renovations on a property in Bulwell, Nottingham, when the three-storey terraced house erupted from its first floor.
The builder had positioned a defective portable space heater, linked to a propane gas (LPG) cylinder, in the property's cellar to combat dampness.
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However, a gas leak from the heater led to a violent explosion, resulting in severe burn injuries to the hands, legs, face and scalp of a 51-year-old man.
His injuries were so bad, he has been unable to work since.
A nearby neighbour captured footage of the aftermath of the blast, showing smoke billowing from the semi-detached property and debris strewn across the pavement and road.
Newman - the sole proprietor of Foster Brother Builders - can be seen walking unscathed from the property, glancing back at the devastation he has wrought.
Last week (June 19), Nottingham Magistrates' Court handed Newman, of The Quay, Beeston Marina, Nottingham, a 12-month suspended sentence, sparing him an immediate stint behind bars.
He was also instructed to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident, which occurred on November 22, 2022, and discovered that Newman failed to conduct a risk assessment.
He failed to provide appropriate and well-maintained equipment for the task at hand.
The heater's manufacturer's guidelines explicitly state that it should only be used in areas with good ventilation and that LPG cylinders should not be stored underground.
This is due to the fact that the gas, being denser than air, will accumulate at lower levels in the event of a leak.
HSE guidance stipulates that employers must ensure work equipment is utilised solely for tasks and under conditions deemed suitable.
Newman admitted to violating Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Roy Poulter, HSE Inspector, commented: "This gas explosion has left one man unable to work due to the seriousness of the injuries sustained and it could have easily resulted in someone losing their life.
"This case should serve as a strong reminder to those in the building trade on the dangers of working with gas and the need to assess the risk, and just how serious both HSE and the courts take failures like this.
"HSE will take action against those who do not do all that they can to keep people safe."
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