Stockline Plastics factory explosion
Encyclopedia
On May 11, 2004, the ICL Plastics factory (commonly referred to as Stockline Plastics factory), in the Woodside
district of Glasgow
in western Scotland
, exploded. Nine people were killed, including two company directors, and 33 injured, 15 seriously. The four-storey building was largely destroyed.
occurred at around midday BST
(11:00 UTC
).The first service to attend were a Patient Transport Ambulance crew that diverted straight to the scene. This initial crew saved dozens of lives by taking control of the evacuation
and pulling the injured to safety. Approximately 60 people worked in the factory, and around a dozen were trapped in the rubble. Fire crews used specialist search-and-rescue equipment, including sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide
detectors (which detect the respired carbon dioxide of trapped persons), thermal-imaging
equipment, and fibre-optic camera
s to search for people trapped in the collapsed building. Some trapped workers were able to make themselves heard by shouting, or by using their mobile phones. Fire and Ambulance crews pulled seven people alive from the rubble on May 11. The search through the factory's ruins continued for the following three days.
Up to 300 firefighter
s and Paramedics were present at the scene and were supported by, the crew of a Sea King rescue helicopter
from RAF Leconfield
, North Yorkshire
, and a sniffer dog team from RAF Waddington
, Lincolnshire
. The volunteer group International Rescue Corps
, who specialise in travelling to the site of earthquake
s and helping locate survivors, sent eleven of its Scottish members to the scene.
The injured were taken for treatment to five hospitals in Glasgow; the most patients were taken to Stobhill Hospital
, Western Infirmary
and Glasgow Royal Infirmary
, and the remaining were treated at Southern General and Victoria Infirmary. Seven people were declared dead at the scene, and two died in Western Infirmary. One firefighter was taken to hospital after being overcome by fumes, and several were stricken by heat exhaustion while labouring in the hot and humid conditions.
Strathclyde Police
named the deceased as Annette Doyle (32), Peter Ferguson (52), Thomas McAulay (41), Tracy McErlane (27), Ann Trench (34), company directors Stewart McColl (60) and Margaret Brownlie (49), Kenneth Ronald Murray, (45), and Timothy Smith (31). With the recovery of Mr. Smith's body from the site on May 14, Strathclyde Fire Brigade announced that they believed no hope of recovering live victims remained.
Another theory investigated by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) was that there was no explosion. An article in the Scotsman newspaper of October 5, 2004 stated that the HSE was investigating the possibility that heavy machinery and pallets kept on the upper floors caused the floor to collapse, bringing the rest of the building down with it.
Other theories included a dust explosion and a build-up of methane beneath the building.
However the final inquest of the HSE indicated that the explosion was due to an ignition of gas released by a leak
in a pressurised petroleum gas pipe.
The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank and pipes that had been installed beneath the factory in the late 1960s had corroded allowing the gas to escape.
Stockline Plastics was a distribution company and did not manufacture anything, therefore did not require a factory. Stockline Plastics are not being charged at all in relation with the incident as they had no involvement with the factory.
star, Henrik Larsson
, announced that the shirt he wore in his farewell match against Seville
on Tuesday would be auctioned in aid of the appeal. It is expected to attract bids of up to £10,000.
A memorial service took place in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on July 4, 2004. Another was held at Community Central Hall on May 11, 2005, one year on from the tragic event.
The company has been accused of;
A public inquiry
will be carried out after the criminal proceedings are concluded.
The original hearing date of December 12, 2006 was postponed as "The timescale that the defence solicitors have been afforded for their preparation of the case has been significantly less [than the Procurator Fiscal's]".
The trial, which began on August 13, 2007, concluded on August 17, 2007, with the operators ICL Tech Ltd and ICL Plastics admitting to 4 charges in court.
On August 28, 2007 a fine of £200,000 (around $400,000US) was imposed on each of the two companies responsible (ICL Plastics Limited and ICL Tech Limited).
Woodside, Glasgow
Woodside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde, between the River Kelvin and the Forth and Clyde canal....
district of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in western Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, exploded. Nine people were killed, including two company directors, and 33 injured, 15 seriously. The four-storey building was largely destroyed.
Response
The explosionExplosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
occurred at around midday BST
British Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
(11:00 UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
).The first service to attend were a Patient Transport Ambulance crew that diverted straight to the scene. This initial crew saved dozens of lives by taking control of the evacuation
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
and pulling the injured to safety. Approximately 60 people worked in the factory, and around a dozen were trapped in the rubble. Fire crews used specialist search-and-rescue equipment, including sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
detectors (which detect the respired carbon dioxide of trapped persons), thermal-imaging
Thermography
Infrared thermography, thermal imaging, and thermal video are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms...
equipment, and fibre-optic camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s to search for people trapped in the collapsed building. Some trapped workers were able to make themselves heard by shouting, or by using their mobile phones. Fire and Ambulance crews pulled seven people alive from the rubble on May 11. The search through the factory's ruins continued for the following three days.
Up to 300 firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s and Paramedics were present at the scene and were supported by, the crew of a Sea King rescue helicopter
Westland Sea King
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
from RAF Leconfield
RAF Leconfield
The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield , East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield .-History:...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, and a sniffer dog team from RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington
RAF Waddington is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England.-Formation:Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps flying training station in 1916 until 1920, when the station went into care and maintenance....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. The volunteer group International Rescue Corps
International Rescue Corps
The International Rescue Corps is a volunteer organization involved in disaster rescue, based in Grangemouth, Scotland.It is an independent United Nations registered disaster rescue service with an accredited UK National Open College Network qualification in Urban Search and Rescue...
, who specialise in travelling to the site of earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s and helping locate survivors, sent eleven of its Scottish members to the scene.
The injured were taken for treatment to five hospitals in Glasgow; the most patients were taken to Stobhill Hospital
Stobhill Hospital
Stobhill Hospital is an Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Hospital, located in the district of Springburn in the north of Glasgow, Scotland. It serves the population of North Glasgow and part of East Dunbartonshire.-History:...
, Western Infirmary
Western Infirmary
The Western Infirmary is a teaching hospital situated in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. There is also a Maggie's centre at the hospital to help cancer patients, as well as the Glasgow Clinical Research Facility....
and Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Glasgow Royal Infirmary
The Glasgow Royal Infirmary is a large teaching hospital, operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,. With a capacity of around 1000 beds, the hospital campus covers an area of around 20 acres, situated on the north-eastern edge of the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:Designed by Robert...
, and the remaining were treated at Southern General and Victoria Infirmary. Seven people were declared dead at the scene, and two died in Western Infirmary. One firefighter was taken to hospital after being overcome by fumes, and several were stricken by heat exhaustion while labouring in the hot and humid conditions.
Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Police is the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Argyll and Bute, City of Glasgow, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West...
named the deceased as Annette Doyle (32), Peter Ferguson (52), Thomas McAulay (41), Tracy McErlane (27), Ann Trench (34), company directors Stewart McColl (60) and Margaret Brownlie (49), Kenneth Ronald Murray, (45), and Timothy Smith (31). With the recovery of Mr. Smith's body from the site on May 14, Strathclyde Fire Brigade announced that they believed no hope of recovering live victims remained.
Cause
The cause of the explosion was initially unknown. Some press coverage reported eyewitness accounts of gas industrial ovens in the coating department exploding. This has since been shown as unlikely as the gas ovens used on site have been found intact.Another theory investigated by the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
(HSE) was that there was no explosion. An article in the Scotsman newspaper of October 5, 2004 stated that the HSE was investigating the possibility that heavy machinery and pallets kept on the upper floors caused the floor to collapse, bringing the rest of the building down with it.
Other theories included a dust explosion and a build-up of methane beneath the building.
However the final inquest of the HSE indicated that the explosion was due to an ignition of gas released by a leak
Leak
A leak is a hole or other opening, usually unintended and therefore undesired, in a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container...
in a pressurised petroleum gas pipe.
The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank and pipes that had been installed beneath the factory in the late 1960s had corroded allowing the gas to escape.
Confusion over Name
Although regularly referred to as the "Stockline Plastics factory", largely due to the signage around the building, the factory was owned by ICL Plastics and indeed a large majority of the work that took place there was for ICL Technical Plastics. The offices on the floors above were used by ICL Plastics, ICL Tech and Stockline Plastics.Stockline Plastics was a distribution company and did not manufacture anything, therefore did not require a factory. Stockline Plastics are not being charged at all in relation with the incident as they had no involvement with the factory.
Aftermath
The Grovepark Fund, established to help the families of those killed and injured in the blast, received a boost when the departing Celtic F.C.Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
star, Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS.Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they qualified to Allsvenskan 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before...
, announced that the shirt he wore in his farewell match against Seville
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
on Tuesday would be auctioned in aid of the appeal. It is expected to attract bids of up to £10,000.
A memorial service took place in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on July 4, 2004. Another was held at Community Central Hall on May 11, 2005, one year on from the tragic event.
Prosecution - February 17, 2006
The Crown Office decided on 17 February to prosecute ICL Plastics Limited and ICL Tech Limited under the Health & Safety at Work Act following a report conducted by the Glasgow Procurator Fiscal and HSE.The company has been accused of;
- Failing to maintain pipes carrying hazardous gas
- Failure to ensure the safety of staff and visitors
- Failing to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments
A public inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
will be carried out after the criminal proceedings are concluded.
The original hearing date of December 12, 2006 was postponed as "The timescale that the defence solicitors have been afforded for their preparation of the case has been significantly less [than the Procurator Fiscal's]".
The trial, which began on August 13, 2007, concluded on August 17, 2007, with the operators ICL Tech Ltd and ICL Plastics admitting to 4 charges in court.
On August 28, 2007 a fine of £200,000 (around $400,000US) was imposed on each of the two companies responsible (ICL Plastics Limited and ICL Tech Limited).
Public Inquiry
The ICL Inquiry is taking place in Maryhill Community Central Hall, and started on 2 July 2008, after extensive refurbishment work was carried out on behalf of the Scottish Courts Service to make the venue suitable for the public inquiry. The Crown, the victims' families, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and ICL are all represented. The inquiry will examine over 20,000 pages of evidence and is expected to take three weeks to complete the first phase of factual enquiry. The second stage, which will look at causes and reasons, will begin in October 2008 and is expected to take a further four to six weeks. The inquiry is chaired by Lord Gill. Roy Martin Q.C., a former Dean of the faculty of Advocates, is lead counsel for the inquiry.External links
- Community Central Hall
- The ICL Inquiry
- Report from Universities of Strathclyde and Stirling ICL/Stockline disaster: an independent report on working conditions prior to the explosion
- Latest News from Scotsman.com
- BBC News: Factory explosion kills four (Tuesday)
- Blast survivor search continues (Wednesday)
- photographs of the scene on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday
- The Times: On the spot: at the Glasgow factory explosion (Tuesday)
- The Guardian: 'There was a massive bang, the whole lot came down on top of me' eyewitness accounts of survivors
- The Scotsman: Four Die in Factory Blast Horror
- BBC News: Factory blast report 'considered'
- BBC News: Blast site given back to owners
- BBC News: Factory blast anniversary marked