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Bosley mill explosion: rescue workers 'move to search and recovery phase' Bosley mill explosion: rescue workers 'move to search and recovery phase'
(about 1 hour later)
The families of the four workers missing after a devastating fire at a Cheshire mill faced the worst possible news on Monday as police and fire chiefs admitted they had all but given up hope of finding anyone alive.The families of the four workers missing after a devastating fire at a Cheshire mill faced the worst possible news on Monday as police and fire chiefs admitted they had all but given up hope of finding anyone alive.
Search teams found the body of one of the workers, from Wood Flour Mills, in Bosley near Macclesfield, on Sunday night, but the body has not yet been identified.Search teams found the body of one of the workers, from Wood Flour Mills, in Bosley near Macclesfield, on Sunday night, but the body has not yet been identified.
Derek Moore, 62, Dorothy Bailey, 62, Jason Shingler, 38, and William Barks, 51, were all believed to be working on upper floors when an explosion and fire on Friday morning reduced the four-storey building to rubble.Derek Moore, 62, Dorothy Bailey, 62, Jason Shingler, 38, and William Barks, 51, were all believed to be working on upper floors when an explosion and fire on Friday morning reduced the four-storey building to rubble.
At a press conference on Monday, Paul Hancock, chief fire officer at Cheshire fire and rescue service, said the search of the collapsed building was proving to be extremely challenging.At a press conference on Monday, Paul Hancock, chief fire officer at Cheshire fire and rescue service, said the search of the collapsed building was proving to be extremely challenging.
He said: “There is always hope but realistically we are looking at moving into the search and recovery phase.”He said: “There is always hope but realistically we are looking at moving into the search and recovery phase.”
Hancock said emergency services were making progress in an area where the body was found.Hancock said emergency services were making progress in an area where the body was found.
He said: “The current focus is in a particular area about five metres by five metres and we are currently excavating that particular area.He said: “The current focus is in a particular area about five metres by five metres and we are currently excavating that particular area.
“We are now approximately three metres down into that excavation with a potential further 10 metres to go. So it’s a significant challenge.”“We are now approximately three metres down into that excavation with a potential further 10 metres to go. So it’s a significant challenge.”
Several tons of rubble, steelwork and pipework had already been removed from the scene, he said.Several tons of rubble, steelwork and pipework had already been removed from the scene, he said.
“This is a challenging environment for all the emergency services and they are working exceptionally hard to retrieve the remaining individuals.”“This is a challenging environment for all the emergency services and they are working exceptionally hard to retrieve the remaining individuals.”
Hancock said that a pause in operations had taken place out of respect for the victim.Hancock said that a pause in operations had taken place out of respect for the victim.
Guy Hindle, assistant chief constable of Cheshire police, said identifying the recovered body and establishing the cause of the blast would also not be quick tasks.Guy Hindle, assistant chief constable of Cheshire police, said identifying the recovered body and establishing the cause of the blast would also not be quick tasks.
Hindle said: “This is going to take time. Its a very complex set of circumstances and very, very challenging for those teams.”Hindle said: “This is going to take time. Its a very complex set of circumstances and very, very challenging for those teams.”
Three Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officers are working at police headquarters together with its major investigation team, he said.Three Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officers are working at police headquarters together with its major investigation team, he said.
Hindle added he did not share the “disquiet” voiced by some concerning the wood mill owners’ involvement with the investigation.Hindle added he did not share the “disquiet” voiced by some concerning the wood mill owners’ involvement with the investigation.
He said: “The company has not been in touch with the families because they have been unable to do so. They have not been reticent or unwilling to do so. They are working with us to seek to establish the cause of the explosion and the fire.”He said: “The company has not been in touch with the families because they have been unable to do so. They have not been reticent or unwilling to do so. They are working with us to seek to establish the cause of the explosion and the fire.”
The site, which manufactures wood used to make laminate flooring, was also struck by fires in 2010 and 2012.The site, which manufactures wood used to make laminate flooring, was also struck by fires in 2010 and 2012.
Hindle said the investigation was progressing amid ongoing risks and “the need to preserve the scene for investigation – it is an extremely complex scene to examine and we’ve not yet got full access to it”.Hindle said the investigation was progressing amid ongoing risks and “the need to preserve the scene for investigation – it is an extremely complex scene to examine and we’ve not yet got full access to it”.
A woman injured in the blast remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, while two men are in a stable condition.A woman injured in the blast remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition, while two men are in a stable condition.
The company, Wood Treatment Ltd, was warned of a risk of an explosion two years ago.The company, Wood Treatment Ltd, was warned of a risk of an explosion two years ago.
The HSE served an improvement notice in 2013 after it noted the firm had failed to ensure the risk of fire or explosion from liquid petroleum gas stored at the plant was either eliminated or reduced. The company later complied with the notice.The HSE served an improvement notice in 2013 after it noted the firm had failed to ensure the risk of fire or explosion from liquid petroleum gas stored at the plant was either eliminated or reduced. The company later complied with the notice.
In the HSE notice served in March 2013, Wood Treatment was told: “You have failed to ensure that the risk from fire or explosion involving LPG stored in your two bulk tanks at the side of the Station Shed North at your premises at Tunstall Road is either eliminated or reduced, so far as is reasonably practicable.”In the HSE notice served in March 2013, Wood Treatment was told: “You have failed to ensure that the risk from fire or explosion involving LPG stored in your two bulk tanks at the side of the Station Shed North at your premises at Tunstall Road is either eliminated or reduced, so far as is reasonably practicable.”
It added that the tanks “are not protected by suitable barriers to minimise the risk of damage from vehicle impact; the concrete path has not been fitted with suitable barriers to prevent falls; and combustible materials are stored within the separation distance”.It added that the tanks “are not protected by suitable barriers to minimise the risk of damage from vehicle impact; the concrete path has not been fitted with suitable barriers to prevent falls; and combustible materials are stored within the separation distance”.
It was revealed over the weekend that enforcement officers had been called to the Cheshire mill two weeks previously and had ordered the company to clean up the site.It was revealed over the weekend that enforcement officers had been called to the Cheshire mill two weeks previously and had ordered the company to clean up the site.
Wood Treatment, part of the Boden group of companies, has yet to make any statement about Friday’s incident. In a statement, Wood Treatment Limited said: “We are shocked and saddened by the incident at our mill in Bosley and our thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected and their families.
“The mill has been part of the community in Bosley since 1927 and we take the safety of our employees extremely seriously.
“We are committed to establishing the cause of this incident and we will continue to co-operate fully with the emergency services and Health and Safety Executive.
“However, we feel it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time while investigations are ongoing.”
A Boden Group employee said the company directors – thought to be brothers George and Charles Boden – were unavailable for comment.A Boden Group employee said the company directors – thought to be brothers George and Charles Boden – were unavailable for comment.
Six fire engines were still on site at the wreckage scene on Monday, with three fire crews in each of the two areas of the wreckage identified by sniffer dogs.Six fire engines were still on site at the wreckage scene on Monday, with three fire crews in each of the two areas of the wreckage identified by sniffer dogs.
Two high-volume pumps were providing water so that firefighters could continue to cool the site, said Cheshire fire and rescue service.Two high-volume pumps were providing water so that firefighters could continue to cool the site, said Cheshire fire and rescue service.
Cheshire East council was flying its flags at half mast as a mark of respect for the person known to have died.Cheshire East council was flying its flags at half mast as a mark of respect for the person known to have died.