|
30 May 2005 - Stockline Plastics Explosion
Update
Navigation
The owners of the Stockline Plastics factory in Glasgow are
expected not to be faced with criminal charges.
An explosion at the factory just over one year ago, took the
lives of 9 workers, with hundreds of others being injured.
The Crown report on the incident is due to be released next
month, conclusions of which are expected to be of the nature that no individual
was to blame.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Glasgow's Proculator
Fiscal have conducted an extremely in-depth investigation into the cause of the
blast, results of which are yet to be established. The most likely
cause is said to be an underground ruptured gas pipe.
Later this year a fatal accident inquiry will be conducted, in
order to provide further information on circumstances leading to the explosion.
Ann McKechin, Local Labour MP, calling for a full public inquiry
said:
“It should address every single aspect of this tragedy, both
in the period several years before it, the culture within the factory and the
HSE policies.
“This is not a witch-hunt against an individual, but everyone
— the victims, the workers and the wider community — deserves the fullest
answers.”
Ian Tasker, Assistant Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union
Congress also said:
“Our position has always been that the only way to find out
what really happened is a public inquiry. That certainly doesn’t look the case
but it’s up to us to campaign for one. It’s simply not an option to do nothing.
“The families will be angry, but it’s not about holding the
company responsible. All the families want to know is why they lost loved ones.”
Article by Alexandra Johnston
|
