Footage taken by a member of the public shows the immediate aftermath of a gas explosion that left a worker with burns so serious he has been unable to work since.
Barry Newman, 58, the sole trader of Foster Brother Builders, was given a suspended sentence after his failures led to the blast.
Newman had contracted a 51-year-old Nottingham man to carry out refurbishment works on a property in Bulwell. As part of the project, Newman had placed a faulty portable space heater connected to a propane gas (LPG) cylinder in the property’s cellar to dry out damp.
On 22 November 2022, a gas leak from the heater resulted in an explosion that caused the contracted worker to suffer severe burns to his hands, legs, face and scalp.
Footage released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows the extent of the damage caused to the property, with debris also being propelled onto the pavement and residential road.
No risk assessment
An HSE investigation found that Newman failed to carry out a risk assessment and provide suitable and adequately maintained equipment for the works.
The manufacturer’s instructions for the type of heater used stated that it should only be used in well-ventilated areas and that LPG cylinders should not be kept below ground. This is because the gas is heavier than air and will collect at the lower level if there is a leak.
Newman pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 19 June 2025.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid community work. He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.
HSE inspector Roy Poulter said: “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.”
