Company Fined for Neglect
ICL Plastics Ltd has been fined £200,000
at the High Court in Glasgow for four health and safety violations
involving the neglect of buried lpg pipework at its site in Maryhill,
Glasgow, leading to an explosion and the collapse of the building
in 2004.
The Health & Safety Executive charged that the company failed
to carry out sufficient risk assessment or have a proper system
to inspect and maintain the pipework.
"HSE/HSL drew on their investigative
and forensic expertise to identify the cause of the explosion
as a leak from a corroded
pipe carrying lpg,” said Stewart Campbell, HSE director
Scotland. “The lpg then accumulated in an unventilated
room, and the ignition of this lpg caused an explosion of sufficient
force to cause the building to collapse.
"The dangers posed by buried pipes can
be overcome by a systematic approach to risk management and the
findings of the investigation
reinforce the need for effective arrangements for maintenance,
renewal or repositioning of buried pipes. HSE strongly advises
that buried metallic pipes are effectively corrosion protected
and maintained, or replaced either with over ground pipes or
buried plastic pipes constructed and installed to the appropriate
standards.”
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2007 News
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