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Engineer concern at blast factory | Engineer concern at blast factory |
(about 15 hours later) | |
Engineers who visited a factory which later became the site of a fatal explosion expressed concerns about a faulty oven and a leaking gas pipe. | Engineers who visited a factory which later became the site of a fatal explosion expressed concerns about a faulty oven and a leaking gas pipe. |
The details emerged at a public inquiry into the blast at ICL Plastics in Glasgow, on 11 May, 2004, which killed nine people and injured more than 30. | The details emerged at a public inquiry into the blast at ICL Plastics in Glasgow, on 11 May, 2004, which killed nine people and injured more than 30. |
Factory manager Nicholas Downie, who was injured in the blast, also told of the moments before the tragedy. | |
He told the inquiry it had "seemed liked a normal day". | |
The explosion was caused when a build-up of gas from corroded pipes ignited. | The explosion was caused when a build-up of gas from corroded pipes ignited. |
ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were fined £400,000 at Glasgow High Court last year after admitting health and safety breaches. | ICL Plastics and ICL Tech were fined £400,000 at Glasgow High Court last year after admitting health and safety breaches. |
I had not noticed any unusual smells. It seemed like a normal day Nicholas DownieFactory manager | |
Gas engineer James Kincaid, of Boiler Scot Ltd, told the inquiry he was approached by ICL to install a new oven in 1993. | |
On a visit to the premises, the engineer told bosses he would not service the existing oven as there appeared to be chemicals stored nearby and there was no chimney. | On a visit to the premises, the engineer told bosses he would not service the existing oven as there appeared to be chemicals stored nearby and there was no chimney. |
Instead, he said there was an "inadequate flue" which had holes in it and the oven door was open, meaning someone could fall in. | Instead, he said there was an "inadequate flue" which had holes in it and the oven door was open, meaning someone could fall in. |
"In hindsight I should have reported the oven to the Health and Safety Executive," Mr Kincaid said. | "In hindsight I should have reported the oven to the Health and Safety Executive," Mr Kincaid said. |
The inquiry also heard of problems with the leaking pipe. | The inquiry also heard of problems with the leaking pipe. |
'Leaking' pipe | |
An engineer report, dated 14 June, 1999, stated: "Arrived on site to test gas line, due to fire in factory next door. | An engineer report, dated 14 June, 1999, stated: "Arrived on site to test gas line, due to fire in factory next door. |
"Gas soundness test failed. Factory's own workers will locate leak." | "Gas soundness test failed. Factory's own workers will locate leak." |
A report 11 days later said: "Arrived on site to carry out soundness test, found that pipe work was still leaking. | A report 11 days later said: "Arrived on site to carry out soundness test, found that pipe work was still leaking. |
"Found that repairs had been carried out using wrong fittings." | "Found that repairs had been carried out using wrong fittings." |
Describing toe day of the explosion, Mr Downie, son of ICL Plastics chairman Campbell Downie, said: "I had last been in the fabrication department at about 8am that morning. | |
"I had not noticed any unusual smells. It seemed like a normal day." | |
The 43-year-old told how ICL Plastics director Stewart McColl, who died in the blast, had been telling a forklift driver to wear a hard hat, shortly before the disaster. | |
He said the director took health and safety "very seriously", telling the inquiry: "The last words I ever heard him speak were when he was disciplining an ICL employee." |
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