The Operators of the Stockline plastics factory in Maryhill, Scotland, have been fined a total of £400,000 over a gas explosion which killed nine people. ICL Plastics and ICL Tech admitted four charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 relating to the blast in Glasgow on 11 May 2004, which has been described as Scotland's worst workplace disaster since the Piper Alpha oil platform incident in July 1988.
The scale of the incident, the number of fatalities, serious injuries and people affected meant that a joint investigation between the police, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Crown Office and procurator fiscal service was required. The investigation led to a liquid petroleum pipe which had corroded, leaking propane into the cellar of the factory which then ignited and caused the blast. The charges alleged that between 1993 and 2004 the two companies had failed to make sure that their workers were not exposed to risks of personal injury and death from fires, explosion and other dangers. In fact, in what was a catalogue of errors over the years, it emerged that a student working on a holiday job had carried out risk assessments on buried gas pipes.
The firms said that they would welcome an inquiry into the accident and a statement read, "The information brought to light by the complex technical investigation and subsequent court proceedings will, we hope, have provided meaningful answers to many of the questions surrounding this terrible tragedy. Since May 2004, all concerned have made enormous efforts to sustain the companies and to maintain the employment of our workforce. The heroic input from so many who were injured in the blast and the loyalty and support of many others, is the reason for the companies survival to this day."
