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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/25/didcot-a-accident-demolition-of-power-station-a-first-for-firm
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| Didcot A accident: company had never knocked down a power station before | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The company demolishing the defunct Didcot power station in Oxfordshire, where at least one person died on Tuesday, had not previously worked on a power station. | The company demolishing the defunct Didcot power station in Oxfordshire, where at least one person died on Tuesday, had not previously worked on a power station. |
| The Birmingham-based Coleman Group was awarded the contract to dismantle the Didcot A coal and gas-fired station by RWE npower. The power station collapsed Tuesday afternoon while its workers were preparing the structure for demolition. | The Birmingham-based Coleman Group was awarded the contract to dismantle the Didcot A coal and gas-fired station by RWE npower. The power station collapsed Tuesday afternoon while its workers were preparing the structure for demolition. |
| Another three workers remain missing and are thought to have died, while a further five were injured and more than 47 others were treated for dust inhalation. | Another three workers remain missing and are thought to have died, while a further five were injured and more than 47 others were treated for dust inhalation. |
| Kieran Conaty, project director for the demolition project, said in a Coleman & Company video posted online in December that RWE knew it was the first time the company had dismantled a power station. “We’ve never done anything like this, but we are that type of a company that we learn to adapt, and we tried to bring in some expertise,” he said. The focus was on ensuring that the project was finished safely, on time and on budget, Conaty said in the video. | Kieran Conaty, project director for the demolition project, said in a Coleman & Company video posted online in December that RWE knew it was the first time the company had dismantled a power station. “We’ve never done anything like this, but we are that type of a company that we learn to adapt, and we tried to bring in some expertise,” he said. The focus was on ensuring that the project was finished safely, on time and on budget, Conaty said in the video. |
| The company had been working on the site since March 2012 and had demolished the tank and bunker bay there late September. Colman workers had been preparing the boiler house for demolition when it collapsed on Tuesday. | The company had been working on the site since March 2012 and had demolished the tank and bunker bay there late September. Colman workers had been preparing the boiler house for demolition when it collapsed on Tuesday. |
| An RWE spokesman said that Coleman & Company had been appointed after a thorough and robust process. “Our contractor for Didcot A power station is known as one of the UK’s leading demolition specialists, successfully carrying out controlled and complex demolition projects and have been in business for over 50 years,” he said. | An RWE spokesman said that Coleman & Company had been appointed after a thorough and robust process. “Our contractor for Didcot A power station is known as one of the UK’s leading demolition specialists, successfully carrying out controlled and complex demolition projects and have been in business for over 50 years,” he said. |
| Coleman & Company declined to comment. Its other projects include the demolition of four redundant gas holders at the Battersea power station site in central London for National Grid. | Coleman & Company declined to comment. Its other projects include the demolition of four redundant gas holders at the Battersea power station site in central London for National Grid. |
| The cause of the Didcot collapse is still unknown and Thames Valley police and the Health and Safety Executive are conducting an investigation. | The cause of the Didcot collapse is still unknown and Thames Valley police and the Health and Safety Executive are conducting an investigation. |
| On Thursday heavy engineering, cranes and lifting equipment arrived at the scene as rescue teams continued to examine the 30ft debris pile at the site. | On Thursday heavy engineering, cranes and lifting equipment arrived at the scene as rescue teams continued to examine the 30ft debris pile at the site. |
| The families of the three people still unaccounted for have visited the scene. Emergency crews said it was “highly unlikely” they would still be alive. | The families of the three people still unaccounted for have visited the scene. Emergency crews said it was “highly unlikely” they would still be alive. |
| Dave Etheridge, chief fire officer of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our priority remains to recover those missing but the site remains extremely unstable – both the collapsed structure and the remaining building which has already been primed and cut for demolition. | Dave Etheridge, chief fire officer of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our priority remains to recover those missing but the site remains extremely unstable – both the collapsed structure and the remaining building which has already been primed and cut for demolition. |
| “It is likely that a further collapse is possible and so the safety of the teams working on site has to be our first consideration. We are continuing to work closely with structural engineers and demolition experts to establish a safe way of working on the site. We anticipate that this exercise will be prolonged and difficult.” | “It is likely that a further collapse is possible and so the safety of the teams working on site has to be our first consideration. We are continuing to work closely with structural engineers and demolition experts to establish a safe way of working on the site. We anticipate that this exercise will be prolonged and difficult.” |
| Didcot A opened in 1970 as a coal-fired power station and was later adapted to burn natural gas as well. It closed in March 2013 and hundreds of onlookers watched as three of its enormous cooling towers were blown up in July the following year. | Didcot A opened in 1970 as a coal-fired power station and was later adapted to burn natural gas as well. It closed in March 2013 and hundreds of onlookers watched as three of its enormous cooling towers were blown up in July the following year. |