|
Oil companies in court over UK oil depot blast
Published on October 5, 2009 by oilprices · 1 CommentFive oil companies are due to appear in a UK court charged in connection with an oil explosion at the Buncefield oil depot, United Kingdom in 2005. Total UK Ltd, Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd, British Pipeline Agency Ltd, TAV Engineering Ltd and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd will stand trial in a case being brought by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
The trial at Woolwich Crown Court, London, comes almost four years after a series of explosions ripped through the depot in Hemel Hempstead on December 11, 2005. Widely thought to be the largest explosion in peacetime Europe, it measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and could be heard 125 miles away.
A plea and case management hearing will be held for the five companies facing charges. Total UK is charged with two counts of failure to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act and one count of causing the pollution of controlled waters.
Hertfordshire Oil Storage is charged with contravening health and safety regulation and causing the pollution of controlled waters. TAV Engineering is charged with failure to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act. British Pipeline Agency is charged with contravening a health and safety regulation and causing pollution of controlled waters. Motherwell Control Systems is charged with failure to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Tags: oil companies, oil depot blast, UK
Like or Dislike, Vote Now:
0 
0
What a blast, what a shambles the emergency services made of the situation at the time, remember it well.