Factory blast report to be published within weeks

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

THE findings of an inquiry into a factory blast which killed nine workers will be published later this month, the Scottish Government said yesterday.

Former employees of ICL plastics gave evidence at last year's hearing into the explosion at the Glasgow plant on 11 May 2004.

Nine people died and a further 33 people were seriously injured in the blast, caused when a build-up of leaking gas ignited.

The public inquiry, held over two sessions in July and October, was told how no proper checks had been made on corroded pipework installed in the 1960s.

Chairman Lord Gill will make recommendations on how a similar tragedy can be prevented.

The judge delivered his report yesterday to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Yvette Cooper, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Plant operators ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were previously fined 400,000 by the courts after admitting health and safety breaches.

Ms Cooper said: "The report will now be considered to see what can be done."