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17/02/2006
Corus to face prosecution over furnace explosion
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are to prosecute Corus for breaches of health and safety law, following the conclusion of its investigation into the 2001 explosion at a blast furnace at their Port Talbot site.
The November 8 explosion at blast furnace number five killed three men, Len Radford, 53, from Maesteg, Andrew Hutin, 20, and Stephen Galsworthy, 25, both from Port Talbot. Nine others were seriously injured in the explosion.
An inquest in Swansea in 2005 recorded verdicts of accidental deaths.
The first criminal charge alleges that under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, that the company did not ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the safety of its employees in connection with the operation of the blast furnace. The second criminal charge under the Act, alleges that Corus did not conduct the operation of the blast furnace in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that contractors, were not exposed to risks to their safety.
The first hearing of the case is scheduled for April 12, 2006 at Neath Magistrates Court.
Relatives were informed of the charges at Port Talbot police station earlier this week. The father of Andrew Hutin said he was angry that only two charges had been bought against the company.
Corus have declined to comment on the case as proceedings are ongoing. The company has already admitted civil liability for the explosion.
An HSE report in 2003 concluded that the likely cause of the explosion was water entering the blast furnace.
(SP/KMcA)
The November 8 explosion at blast furnace number five killed three men, Len Radford, 53, from Maesteg, Andrew Hutin, 20, and Stephen Galsworthy, 25, both from Port Talbot. Nine others were seriously injured in the explosion.
An inquest in Swansea in 2005 recorded verdicts of accidental deaths.
The first criminal charge alleges that under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, that the company did not ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the safety of its employees in connection with the operation of the blast furnace. The second criminal charge under the Act, alleges that Corus did not conduct the operation of the blast furnace in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that contractors, were not exposed to risks to their safety.
The first hearing of the case is scheduled for April 12, 2006 at Neath Magistrates Court.
Relatives were informed of the charges at Port Talbot police station earlier this week. The father of Andrew Hutin said he was angry that only two charges had been bought against the company.
Corus have declined to comment on the case as proceedings are ongoing. The company has already admitted civil liability for the explosion.
An HSE report in 2003 concluded that the likely cause of the explosion was water entering the blast furnace.
(SP/KMcA)
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Plastics Factory Fined £400,000 Over Blast
The operators of a Glasgow plastics factory has been fined £400,000 for safety breaches which resulted in nine deaths, it has emerged. ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were each fined £200,000 each at the High Court at Glasgow following a joint investigation into the explosion and building collapse at the ICL site in Maryhill, Glasgow on 11 May 2004.
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HSENI focus on construction safety measures
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has embarked on a week-long province-wide inspection initiative to determine the extent of safety measures used on industrial roofing projects.
HSENI focus on construction safety measures
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has embarked on a week-long province-wide inspection initiative to determine the extent of safety measures used on industrial roofing projects.
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