Incident Overview
A company has been fined £350,000 following an incident in which a worker sustained serious injuries after a chemical tank burst in an Aberdeenshire town.
Hundreds of barrels containing calcium chloride brine—a non-toxic chemical commonly used in oil and gas drilling—were released when the corroded tank ruptured in Peterhead in 2023.
Injuries and Legal Proceedings
Philip Moir, a contractor present at the time, reported that he continues to suffer from multiple broken bones and chemical burns three years after the event.
At Peterhead Sheriff Court, Tetra Technologies admitted to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act in relation to the incident.
Emergency Response
Emergency services responded promptly to the offshore supply base following the incident on 21 June 2023.
The Scottish Ambulance Service dispatched three ambulances along with a special operations response team, while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed two fire appliances and specialist resources.
Moir was transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment, and four additional individuals received precautionary care at the scene.
The site was evacuated and operations were temporarily suspended as a result of the incident.
Victim's Statement
Following the case, Moir issued a statement through law firm Digby Brown expressing that the fine did not provide him with a sense of closure.
"Tetra had a duty to make sure everything was safe and clearly it wasn't," he said.
"It's honestly a miracle I wasn't killed when the silo burst.
Not only have I lost my career but everything I planned for the future is now uncertain."
"This has been truly life changing in the worst way imaginable but I want to thank everyone who has supported me as I continue my recovery."
