Oil worker 'critical' after fatal refinery blast

An OIL worker remained in hospital in critical condition last night after an explosion that killed four of his colleagues.

The man is being treated for severe burns at Morriston Hospital in Swansea following the blast at the Chevron Refinery at Pembroke Dock in south Wales.

A joint police and Health and Safety Executive investigation is being carried out into the explosion, which is believed to have been a "tragic industrial accident". Maintenance work had been carried out on a 730 cubic metre storage tank that exploded at around 6:20pm on Thursday, damaging an adjacent vessel.

Sources said that three of those who died were male painters while the fourth was a woman on fire-watch duties.

David Urpeth, national head of workplace injuries at legal firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "Major industrial accidents like this have a devastating impact on both workers and the local community and everyone in Pembroke will undoubtedly be seeking answers as to how this terrible and tragic incident came to occur.

"It is absolutely vital that Chevron, HSE and other authorities work swiftly to determine what caused the explosion and subsequent fire and, more importantly, how it could have been prevented."

Local Tory MP Simon Hart, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, said he was "assured that a full investigation will be taking place".

He added: "We live alongside these industrial giants that provide so much work for the county, and few of us think of the risks that come with working there."

The refinery and a nearby construction site, where a new power station is being built for npower, were closed yesterday as a mark of respect.

The police divisional commander for Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion said: "Early indications suggest that this is a tragic industrial incident.

"Sadly four people have lost their lives, and a fifth person remains in hospital, critically ill."

Locals expressed shock at what had happened but said a certain level of risk was inevitable at an industrial site.

A former welder at the site, Tony Spicer, 75, of Pembroke Dock, said: "At a refinery you are working within a time bomb and at any time something can go wrong.

"It is terrible when something like this happens. The lives of four people is a great loss. But this is not the first accident.

"I think that an accident and loss of life is inevitable from time to time. It's not always human error, it is just something that can happen."

Pembroke Dock shopper Bronwen Lewis, 63, said: "There will always be accidents wherever you have a big place like this.

"These places have got to be there at the end of the day and accidents will occasionally happen, no matter what anyone does."Unfortunately, in this case, lives have been lost."

Chevron is carrying out its own investigation into what happened.

A statement from the company said: "Chevron is hugely saddened by the death of four of its contractor colleagues in the incident yesterday evening and our thoughts go out to their families at this very difficult time.

"One contractor colleague remains in hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

"Pembroke Refinery is a very close family and this tragedy has been a great shock to everyone. The welfare of our employees is our key priority and we are providing counselling support to all our staff and their families."

Unite, which has more than 400 members at the site, expressed "deep sympathy" at the death of the four contractors.