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Court hears Stockline blast cause Student assessed factory's pipes
(about 1 hour later)
Families of those killed or injured when a Glasgow factory blew up have heard in detail for the first time how the tragedy unfolded. Risk assessments on buried gas pipes at a Glasgow factory where nine people died in an explosion were carried out by a student on a holiday job.
The events surrounding the devastating explosion at the Stockline plant in Maryhill were revealed at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday. The High Court in Glasgow has been told that a decision was taken by the firms operating the factory in Maryhill not to employ an outside consultant.
At an earlier hearing plant, operators ICL Plastics and ICL Tech pled guilty to breaches of health and safety laws. ICL Plastics and ICL Tech pled guilty to breaches of health and safety laws.
Nine people died and dozens more were injured in the blast three years ago. They await sentence after admitting four breaches in relation to the incident in May 2004.
The court heard that risk assessments on buried gas pipelines at the factory were carried out by a student on a holiday job. On Monday, the court heard that the supplier of propane gas to the factory did not know that the pipelines, which would have cost £405 to replace, had not been inspected professionally.
A decision was taken by the companies operating the factory in Maryhill not to employ an outside consultant. The companies said the work would not "add value".
The court also heard that the supplier of propane gas to the factory did not know the pipelines had not been inspected. They would have cost just £405 to replace.
GLASGOW BLAST VICTIMS Margaret Brownlie, 49, StrathavenAnnette Doyle, 34, GlasgowPeter Ferguson, 52, KilbarchanThomas McAulay, 41, Mount Florida, GlasgowStewart McColl, 60, West KilbrideTracey McErlane, 27, Possilpark, GlasgowKenneth Murray, 45, PaisleyTimothy Smith, 31, JohnstoneAnn Trench, 34, Colston, GlasgowGLASGOW BLAST VICTIMS Margaret Brownlie, 49, StrathavenAnnette Doyle, 34, GlasgowPeter Ferguson, 52, KilbarchanThomas McAulay, 41, Mount Florida, GlasgowStewart McColl, 60, West KilbrideTracey McErlane, 27, Possilpark, GlasgowKenneth Murray, 45, PaisleyTimothy Smith, 31, JohnstoneAnn Trench, 34, Colston, Glasgow
The origins of the tragedy go back to 1969, according to the four charges against ICL Plastics Ltd and ICL Tech Ltd.The origins of the tragedy go back to 1969, according to the four charges against ICL Plastics Ltd and ICL Tech Ltd.
In or around that year, a propane LPG tank and pipe work, some of it running underground, were installed at the factory.In or around that year, a propane LPG tank and pipe work, some of it running underground, were installed at the factory.
Part of this pipe work came up vertically out of the ground before entering the building.Part of this pipe work came up vertically out of the ground before entering the building.
Five years later, around 1974, the yard outside the building was raised, burying the exposed section of pipe work.Five years later, around 1974, the yard outside the building was raised, burying the exposed section of pipe work.
A steel floor was installed in or around 1980 which created an underground basement area, according to the four charges - two against each company - under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.A steel floor was installed in or around 1980 which created an underground basement area, according to the four charges - two against each company - under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
This meant the previously exposed pipe work was now entering the building at basement level.This meant the previously exposed pipe work was now entering the building at basement level.
Total collapseTotal collapse
The charges allege that between 1993 and May 2004 the companies failed to make a suitable assessment of health and safety risks and failed to identify the pipe work as a potential hazard.The charges allege that between 1993 and May 2004 the companies failed to make a suitable assessment of health and safety risks and failed to identify the pipe work as a potential hazard.
The charges say the companies failed to appoint competent people to carry out measures needed to comply with health and safety legislation, and failed to have a proper system of inspection and maintenance for the pipe work.The charges say the companies failed to appoint competent people to carry out measures needed to comply with health and safety legislation, and failed to have a proper system of inspection and maintenance for the pipe work.
They also failed to ensure there was no risk to employees from the pipe work.They also failed to ensure there was no risk to employees from the pipe work.
All sections of the buried pipe work deteriorated and corroded, as did a cast-iron bend joining two sections of the pipe work.All sections of the buried pipe work deteriorated and corroded, as did a cast-iron bend joining two sections of the pipe work.
This led to an escape of propane gas that accumulated in the basement area in a cloud which ignited and exploded, resulting in the total collapse of the building.This led to an escape of propane gas that accumulated in the basement area in a cloud which ignited and exploded, resulting in the total collapse of the building.