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Corus in court over fatal blast Corus admits guilt on fatal blast
(about 1 hour later)
Corus is due in court over failing to ensure workers' safety after an inquiry into a blast at its Port Talbot plant which killed three men and injured 12. Corus have pleaded guilty on two counts of breaking health and safety laws after a blast at its Port Talbot plant which killed three men and injured 12.
The explosion in 2001 destroyed blast furnace number five, lifting it off its base and blasting out 200 tonnes of steel slag and hot gasses.The explosion in 2001 destroyed blast furnace number five, lifting it off its base and blasting out 200 tonnes of steel slag and hot gasses.
Len Radford, from Maesteg, Andrew Hutin and Stephen Galsworthy, from Port Talbot, all died.Len Radford, from Maesteg, Andrew Hutin and Stephen Galsworthy, from Port Talbot, all died.
The hearing at Swansea Crown Court is scheduled to last two days. The prosecution followed a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation.
Mr Hutin's father, Mike Hutin, said he had waited too long to find out why his son died. After its plea at Swansea Crown Court, Corus UK Ltd could now face unlimited financial penalties - the highest precedent being Transco's £15m fine in 2005, for a gas leak that killed a family of four in South Lanarkshire.
He said: "Time has not made it easier. Forget the old saying that time helps and time heals - it doesn't do that and to be honest it's just been a real struggle."
NegotiationsNegotiations
If the case goes against them, Corus could face unlimited financial penalties - the highest precedent being Transco's £15m fine in 2005, for a gas leak that killed a family of four in South Lanarkshire. The company faced two charges in the prosecution by the HSE for breaches of health and safety law, following the conclusion of its investigation into the explosion at the furnace.
Corus UK Ltd faces two charges in the prosecution by the HSE for breaches of health and safety law, following the conclusion of its investigation into the explosion at the furnace. The first criminal charge was that Corus did not ensure the safety of its employees.
The first criminal charge alleges the company did not ensure the safety of its employees and the second charge alleges it did not ensure contractors were not exposed to risks to their safety. The second charge held it did not ensure contractors were not exposed to risks to their safety.
Corus admitted civil liability for one of the worst accidents in the UK's steel industry for 26 years, around 12 months after the explosion. Negotiations about compensation are still on-going.Corus admitted civil liability for one of the worst accidents in the UK's steel industry for 26 years, around 12 months after the explosion. Negotiations about compensation are still on-going.
Stephen Galsworthy, Andrew Hutin, and Len Radford died in the explosionStephen Galsworthy, Andrew Hutin, and Len Radford died in the explosion
In 2003, the HSE published a report into the explosion which said its likely cause was water coming into contact with hot material in the furnace.In 2003, the HSE published a report into the explosion which said its likely cause was water coming into contact with hot material in the furnace.
It found the explosion was so powerful, it had lifted the top half of the furnace up, which allowed about 200 tonnes of slag and molten metal and a large volume of hot blast gases to be ejected.It found the explosion was so powerful, it had lifted the top half of the furnace up, which allowed about 200 tonnes of slag and molten metal and a large volume of hot blast gases to be ejected.
The blast furnace gas subsequently ignited and flames enveloped the furnace, the report said.The blast furnace gas subsequently ignited and flames enveloped the furnace, the report said.
In August 2005, an inquest into the three deaths ended in verdicts of accidental death.In August 2005, an inquest into the three deaths ended in verdicts of accidental death.
The jury had been told during the four-week inquest that urgent repairs had begun on the furnace the day before the blast on 8 November, 2001.The jury had been told during the four-week inquest that urgent repairs had begun on the furnace the day before the blast on 8 November, 2001.
After it became apparent water was getting into the furnace, a number of workers took part in a meeting to discuss what to do about the problem.After it became apparent water was getting into the furnace, a number of workers took part in a meeting to discuss what to do about the problem.
The inquest jury was told that the explosion happened about one hour and 15 minutes after that meeting.The inquest jury was told that the explosion happened about one hour and 15 minutes after that meeting.
Mr Hutin's father, Mike Hutin, said he had waited too long to find out why his son died.
He said: "Time has not made it easier. Forget the old saying that time helps and time heals - it doesn't do that and to be honest it's just been a real struggle."