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Bosley mill explosion was 'disaster waiting to happen', says victim's brother Bosley mill worker warned of 'disaster waiting to happen', says brother
(about 2 hours later)
One of the workers killed in the Bosley mill explosion in Cheshire said the factory was “a disaster waiting to happen”, his brother has said. One of the workers killed in the Bosley mill explosion in Cheshire warned that the factory was “a disaster waiting to happen”, his brother has said.
William Barks, 51, was one of four people trapped after an explosion reduced the four-storey building of Wood Treatment Ltd (WTL) to rubble last Friday.William Barks, 51, was one of four people trapped after an explosion reduced the four-storey building of Wood Treatment Ltd (WTL) to rubble last Friday.
Police said on Wednesday that a postmortem examination had taken place on the first body recovered from the scene on Sunday night, which is thought to be that of the father of one from Leek, Staffordshire.Police said on Wednesday that a postmortem examination had taken place on the first body recovered from the scene on Sunday night, which is thought to be that of the father of one from Leek, Staffordshire.
Related: Four people feared trapped in burning Cheshire wood millRelated: Four people feared trapped in burning Cheshire wood mill
William Barks’s brother, Kelvin, has now claimed WTL International failed to buy new parts for a faulty machine despite his brother’s relentless attempts to persuade them, and described the factory as “going back to somewhere in the First World War”. William Barks’s brother, Kelvin, has now claimed WTL International failed to buy new parts for a faulty machine despite his brother’s relentless attempts to persuade them, and described the factory as “going back to somewhere in the first world war”.
Speaking to ITV News, Barks said his brother, who had been working at the factory as an engineer for several years, told him one of the machines was “running so hot it was running dry” and needed a certain type of grease, but the owners didn’t have the right type of grease to resolve the issue. Speaking to ITV News, Barks said his brother, who had been worked as an engineer at the factory for several years, told him one of the machines was “running so hot it was running dry” and needed a certain type of grease which the owners refused to provide.
He said: “Relentlessly he tried to get stuff ordered and they refused. Unless it stopped, that mill, they wouldn’t buy parts for it.He said: “Relentlessly he tried to get stuff ordered and they refused. Unless it stopped, that mill, they wouldn’t buy parts for it.
“He went on all the time – we spent a lot of time together, we were very, very close – and he’d say ‘it’s a disaster waiting to happen’. Unfortunately, it’s taken his life before he had the chance to get out.”“He went on all the time – we spent a lot of time together, we were very, very close – and he’d say ‘it’s a disaster waiting to happen’. Unfortunately, it’s taken his life before he had the chance to get out.”
Barks added that the mill did not have regular fire drills and that there were times when the sprinklers in the factory didn’t work for weeks. Barks added that the mill did not carry out regular fire drills and that there were times when the sprinklers in the factory did not work for weeks.
A joint investigation is currently under way between the police, the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the cause of the explosion at Bosley, which came after earlier fires on the site in 2010 and 2012.A joint investigation is currently under way between the police, the fire service and the Health and Safety Executive to establish the cause of the explosion at Bosley, which came after earlier fires on the site in 2010 and 2012.
It emerged earlier this week that WTL International – who said they were “shocked and saddened” by recent events – were warned of the risk of an explosion in 2013, when the HSE served an improvement notice 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.It emerged earlier this week that WTL International – who said they were “shocked and saddened” by recent events – were warned of the risk of an explosion in 2013, when the HSE served an improvement notice 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.
Enforcement officers were also called to the mill two weeks before the explosions last week that destroyed the complex.Enforcement officers were also called to the mill two weeks before the explosions last week that destroyed the complex.
Fighting back tears, Kelvin Barks said his family was distraught and would not rest until “every stone was upturned” to get to the bottom of the explosion. He added: “[My brother] very much my hero. He inspired me to do well in life. He was an unbelievable guy. So knowledgeable. He could make anything.” Fighting back tears, Kelvin Barks said his family was distraught and would not rest until “every stone was upturned” to get to the bottom of the explosion. He added: “[My brother] was very much my hero. He inspired me to do well in life. He was an unbelievable guy. So knowledgeable. He could make anything.”
A spokeswoman for WTL International said the company could not comment on Barks’s claims at this time. A spokeswoman for WTL International said the company could not comment on Barks’ claims at this time.
Fire and rescue teams have been working non-stop to find Barks, Dorothy Bailey, 62, Jason Shingler, 38, and Derek Moore, 62, following Friday’s explosion. The remains of Barks and one other person have so far been traced.Fire and rescue teams have been working non-stop to find Barks, Dorothy Bailey, 62, Jason Shingler, 38, and Derek Moore, 62, following Friday’s explosion. The remains of Barks and one other person have so far been traced.
The search operation is set to be temporarily suspended later on Wednesday for the demolition of three silos at the scene. In a statement, Cheshire Police said: “The removal of the silos will be carried out in a controlled environment but the procedure is expected to generate a significant amount of dust and noise. The search operation is set to be temporarily suspended later on Wednesday for the demolition of three silos at the scene. In a statement, Cheshire police said: “The removal of the silos will be carried out in a controlled environment but the procedure is expected to generate a significant amount of dust and noise.
“It is essential that the removal of the silos takes place to allow the emergency services to continue with the search and recovery process.”“It is essential that the removal of the silos takes place to allow the emergency services to continue with the search and recovery process.”