28/08/2007

Firms Fined Over Factory Gas Blast

The operators of a plastics factory in Glasgow where nine people were killed in a gas explosion have been fined £400,000 for health and safety breaches.

The penalty was imposed on ICL Plastics and ICL Tech at Glasgow's High Court on Tuesday, following a two-day hearing.

Both companies had admitted four charges over the incident, which happened on May 11, 2004.

Nine people - five men and four women - were killed in the blast at the factory in Maryhill, which happened after gas ignited in a pipe which had corroded in the factory's cellar. Thirty-three people were also injured.

The charges both companies faced alleged that they had failed to ensure that the pipework in the factory posed no risk to the employees.

Passing sentence, trial judge Lord Brodie said that the fines were not meant to equal the lives of those who died or the injuries suffered by those who survived.

A statement issued by both companies after the verdict said that their thoughts remained with the victims, their families and those were injured in the blast and said that they would welcome any inquiry which would establish the facts and circumstances of the incident.

(KMcA/SP)

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