HSE has learned lessons of ICL tragedy, says its chief

Published on Thursday 27 August 2009 21:41

HEALTH and safety officials have admitted to serious failings in the years leading up to a factory explosion in which nine people died – but they said lessons had been learned and action was being taken to improve inspection procedures.

The admission came from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) yesterday in a letter to ministers in Westminster and Holyrood.

It follows the publication last month of the findings of an inquiry headed by Lord Gill into the ICL plastics factory explosion in Glasgow in May 2004, which found "serious failings" by health and safety chiefs.

After the report was published, Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper gave HSE chairwoman Judith Hackitt eight weeks to respond to the accusations and to look at ways of strengthening the safety of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) installations. The Glasgow explosion happened after underground piping installed in 1969 corroded over the years.

Inspectors visited the factory regularly over a 30-year period, but only once raised concerns over the existence and condition of the underground pipe.

When gas leaking from the pipe ignited, the explosion killed nine people and a further 33 were seriously injured.

In the HSE's response yesterday – sent to Ms Cooper, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and Holyrood justice secretary Kenny MacAskill – Ms Hackitt said Lord Gill's report was "fair and accurate" and confirmed there were failings in the HSE.

Ms Hackitt said: "We have learned the lessons from this tragic incident."