A LEADING road tanker manufacturing company has been fined £200,000 after two employees “very nearly died”.

Tasca Tankers, based in the Diamond Business Park, in Wakefield, pleaded guilty to breaching Health & Safety at Work regulations, at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on December 1.

Two male workers suffered exposure to gas in a tank at the premises and continue to suffer with long-lasting physical and psychological effects, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

An employee entered a metal tank to carry out some welding work on March 18, 2020.

A few minutes later, a second worker looked inside to check on his colleague and found the man slumped at the bottom.

He shouted for help and then went into the tank himself, before collapsing like his fellow employee.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and were able to rescue both men after entering the tank with breathing apparatus.

An investigation by the HSE found Tasca had failed to ensure the safety of their employees while working in the tanks, classified as a confined space.

The company, which also has a base in Littlehampton, West Sussex, had previously received enforcement action in relation to this, according to HSE inspector Louise Redgrove.

The two workers suffered asphyxiation while in the tank from the inhalation of argon gas, which was leaking from the welding torch.

This resulted in a hypoxic brain injury that left the first worker in a coma for more than 12 days and on waking he suffered a loss of memory and the inability to walk, talk and move his left arm.

The worker has had to learn to walk and talk again.

The HSE has guidance on working in confined spaces.

After the hearing, Ms Redgrove said: “Two employees very nearly died in an incident which was foreseeable.

“The company had previously received related enforcement action and yet still failed to identify work was taking place inside confined spaces.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided if the company had ensured robust controls, effective training and emergency procedures were in place and current.”

Tasca was ordered to pay £208,741.10 in total.

This included the six-figure fine, costs of £7,060.10, £1,500 in compensation, and a surcharge of £181 to fund victim services.

Tasca says on its website that the company is “regarded as experts in fuel oil tankers, LPG, aviation, one-offs and multiple builds.

The Telegraph & Argus approached Tasca for comment, but the company said there was nobody on site who would be able to do so today.