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Corus admits guilt on fatal blast | Corus admits guilt on fatal blast |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Corus has pleaded guilty to two counts of breaking health and safety laws after a blast at its Port Talbot plant which killed three men and injured 12. | Corus has pleaded guilty to two counts of breaking health and safety laws after a blast at its Port Talbot plant which killed three men and injured 12. |
The steelworks explosion in 2001 destroyed blast furnace five, lifting it off its base and blasting out 200 tonnes of steel slag and hot gasses. | The steelworks explosion in 2001 destroyed blast furnace 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 prosecution followed a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. | The prosecution followed a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. |
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. | 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. |
Stephen Galsworthy, Andrew Hutin, and Len Radford died in the explosion | |
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. | 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. |
The first criminal charge was that Corus did not ensure the safety of its employees. | The first criminal charge was that Corus did not ensure the safety of its employees. |
The second charge held 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. |
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. |
Mike Hutin said 'time has not been a healer' | |
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. | 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." | 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." |