EndocrinologyHSE Responds To Lord Gill's Inquiry Report Into The Explosion At ICL Plastics, Glasgow (2004), UK
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received copies of Lord Gill"s report[1] into the explosion, caused by a leak of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on 11 May 2004, when nine people died and many more were injured at the ICL Plastics factory in Maryhill, Glasgow.
LPG, which had leaked from an on-site underground metal pipe into the basement of the factory, ignited causing an explosion, which led to the catastrophic collapse of the four storey Victorian factory.
The factory manufactured plastics products and coatings and employed 66 people at the time of the explosion. On 28 August 2007, two companies (ICL Tech Limited and ICL Plastics Ltd) were fined ÷£200,000 each at the High Court in Glasgow following guilty pleas; ICL Plastics Limited for breaches of Sections 2 and 4 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and ICL Technical Plastics Limited for breaches of Sections 2 and 3 of that Act.
Lord Brian Gill, Scotland"s second most senior judge, was appointed by the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Lord Advocate for Scotland on 21 January 2008 to chair an Inquiry into the events which led up to the disaster. Formal hearings started on 4 July 2008. HSE inspectors and retired inspectors gave evidence, as well as the Chief Executive and the then Deputy Chief Executive.
Responding to Lord Gill"s account of what happened at ICL Plastics, HSE"s Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger repeated HSE"s apologies to the victims and their families that a specific intervention by HSE had not been brought to a successful conclusion.
Geoffrey Podger commended the Inquiry"s thorough approach in providing resolution, above all to the families, about how the disaster occurred. He continued:
"Although the owners and managers of premises (the "duty holders") remain primarily accountable for managing the risks of the LPG they use, Lord Gill does recommend a number of actions, which touch on HSE as the body which (together with Local Authorities) regulates LPG hazards in industrial and commercial premises.
"HSE has already done a great deal since the accident at ICL Plastics, especially in preparing for a comprehensive programme by the UK LPG suppliers for buried metal pipe work to be replaced with newer and more robust plastic pipes. The UKLPG industry signed up to the replacement plan in June this year and work has already started, ramping up in October, following preparatory data collection, risk assessments and a promotional campaign to alert duty holders to the need to take action. This will be taken forward with the added benefit of Lord Gill"s report."
Timetable agreed for LPG pipework replacement programme[2]
Press release - 30 June, 2009
"This was a terrible tragedy and lessons have been learned. We are well on the way to introducing new industry practices which will further lessen the risk of such an incident happening again.
"We have worked hard with the LPG suppliers and their trade association UKLPG to develop a plan to replace the pipes, using a risk-based approach to tackle the ones which pose the greatest risk first.
"Moreover, HSE have gone further than the remit of Lord Gill"s Inquiry as we are tackling the LPG supply to domestic households as well. This is largely outside HSE"s remit, but we believe that public safety will be best served if we also help householders identify and control risks caused by buried metal pipes.
We recognise that replacing buried LPG pipe work has urgent priority. Much of what we have already done is reflected in the Inquiry recommendations, although we agree with Lord Gill that there is more to be done" he added.
"Lord Gill has made other recommendations, which we are seeing for the first time today and which we must consider and respond to in line with both Governments" expectations and timelines.
"We trust that Lord Gill"s report has provided the families with the explanation they deserve. Of course, we in HSE acknowledge any past shortcoming, which are still a matter of great regret to us.
"We stand ready to assist and assess the practicalities of Lord Gill"s other recommendations. We will assist in their implementation, if proportionate to the risks, so as to make a material difference to gas safety for the public and industry." Geoffrey Podger concluded.
Lord Gill"s Inquiry Report into the explosion at ICL Plastics, Glasgow (2004)[3]
Notes
1. The number of commercial LPG installations across Great Britain is estimated at 60,000 and domestic is 150,000.
2. Section 2 of the Health & Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 requires an employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees.
3. Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 requires an employer to conduct undertakings in such a way so as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment are not exposed to risk to their health or safety.
4. Section 4 of the Health & Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 requires a person in control of premises to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that those premises, and any plant or substances in the premises, are safe and without risk to health.
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