A NEWPORT company could face a fine of up to £600,000 after a worker was “lucky to be alive” after a gas regulator exploded in his face.

Experienced welder David Rees lost his right eye following the accident at Rushlift Ltd’s premises at Queensway Meadows Industrial Estate in the city in 2014.

The company previously pleaded guilty to the failures of provision and use of work equipment and management of health and safety under the Health and Safety Act at Newport Magistrates Court.

Newport Crown Court heard, on the date of the accident, Mr Rees arrived for work at around 8am on August 5, 2014,

He went into the workshop to do some welding to change a chain on a forklift truck.

At around 8.40am, he took out the MIG welding kit and opened the regulator valve of the kit using the “appropriate spanner”.

The court heard the seal then went, the gas regulator failed and he was struck in the face by a component of the metal regulator – blinding him in the right eye.

Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir said that the explosion’s force of 3,335psi was the equivalent of 100 car tyres blowing up at once.

He added that the gas regulator was “way past its lifespan” and its manufacture date was May, 2005.

He said: “The prosecution’s case is that the company failed to maintain the gas regulator in an efficient state and an efficient working order.

“Mr Rees had not received training in checks he should carry out.

“Mr Rees was lucky not to have been killed as a result of this incident, especially when you have metal components being ejected from the equipment.”

The company, which has a turnover of £28 million and a six per cent profit margin, had no similar cases previously taken against them.

However, the court heard that in regulator inspections previously carried out on September 13, 2013 and August 7, 2012, no MIG inspections took place – although new checks have since been introduced.

Defending, Paul Rogers, said that the company had already paid £110,000 in compensation to Mr Rees within seven months of the accident.

Mr Rogers also noted that prominent members from the company later attended his funeral after Mr Rees died from an unrelated terminal illness.

He said: “He benefited and was able to do things that he couldn’t have done before and was able to achieve his life goals before he passed away.

“He was very well respected and liked by everyone in the company. The company very much supported him and many attended his funeral.”

The fine, which will be between £240,000 and £600,000, will be decided by Recorder IWL Jones at Newport Crown Court on Monday and additional costs have already been estimated at £5,141.