Stockline Explosion Report Issued

19 July 2009 by Jim Bennett

Key Points:

• The inquiry found the plant’s underground liquid petroleum gas (LPG) pipe was viewed as “out of sight, out of mind” by the owner.
• Management at ICL “lacked knowledge and understanding” about LPG.
• There were deficiencies in the HSE’s oversight of ICL in failing to appreciate the significance of buried pipework.
• When the yard was raised in 1973 and the floor was laid over the open pit area, safety implications were overlooked.
• Laying a chequer plate floor over the open pit area in 1982 effectively put the pipe entry to the building out of sight.
• Weaknesses in the regulatory regimes existed in the 1980s and they failed to highlight the problems
  Lord Gill says sites with underground metallic pipes between LPG tanks and appliances should have the piping replaced with polyethylene.
• An early inspection should take place of all buildings with LPG supply

Details of the FULL report please click here.  (190 pages, summary – 5 pages)

HSE’s reponse to Lord Gill’s report – please click here.