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Buncefield blast firm 'negligent' Buncefield blast worker negligent
(about 5 hours later)
A High Court judge has ruled that oil company Total UK was negligent over the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire. Two firms have admitted negligence by a duty supervisor at the Buncefield oil depot played a part in Britain's biggest peacetime explosion.
The petrol fire at the Hemel Hempstead depot in December 2005 was Britain's biggest peacetime explosion. The petrol fire at the Hemel Hempstead depot in 2005 injured 43 people.
Mr Justice David Steel brought in a summary ruling after both Total and Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL) agreed there had been negligence. Compensation claims worth millions of pounds have been filed by individuals and affected companies.
Compensation claims worth hundreds of millions of pounds have been filed. Total UK and Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd say the issue of negligence by a supervisor does not amount to admitting civil or criminal liability.
The claims, from individuals, residents' associations, loss assessors, companies and insurers, allege losses resulting from the explosion and blaze which injured 43 people. Faulty safety equipment
The blaze engulfed more than 20 large fuel storage tanks, and buildings around the site where 2,000 people were working had to be evacuated. A statement on Friday, Total said the question of which company was liable for the negligence by the supervisor would be determined through the civil court case in October.
Human error The Buncefield blaze engulfed more than 20 large fuel storage tanks.
Two thousand people working on the site had to be evacuated.
The 630 businesses on the nearby Maylands Industrial Estate were disrupted and damage was caused to homes in Dacorum and St Albans.The 630 businesses on the nearby Maylands Industrial Estate were disrupted and damage was caused to homes in Dacorum and St Albans.
A third company, Chevron, involved in the legal action, has denied negligence.A third company, Chevron, involved in the legal action, has denied negligence.
Further court proceedings will now take place in October.
If no settlement is reached prior to the court date, the judge will rule on liability and the size of any damages.If no settlement is reached prior to the court date, the judge will rule on liability and the size of any damages.
Total UK will admit the incident was due to negligence, after a fuel gauge failed to register a petrol storage tank was full and 300 tonnes of fuel was spilled. But the firm will argue it should not be liable for damages as it could not have foreseen that it would cause the destruction that it did. Total UK admit a fuel gauge failed to register a petrol storage tank was full and 300 tonnes of fuel was spilled.
But the firm will argue it should not be liable for damages as it could not have foreseen that it would cause the destruction that it did.
A report in 2006 by an independent investigation board found human error and faulty safety equipment were responsible for the explosion.A report in 2006 by an independent investigation board found human error and faulty safety equipment were responsible for the explosion.