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E114:05 26 August 2005
Court case against Transco
- Health and Safety Executive statement
Transco PLC was today fined a total of £15m at
the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, under Section 3 of the Health
and Safety etc Act 1974. The jury returned the guilty verdict today following
a six month trial.
Commenting outside the court, John Sumner, Head of the Health and Safety
Executive’s Chemicals Unit in Scotland, said:
“This was a very detailed investigation. I would like to pay tribute to the
excellent work carried out by all the investigators involved – HSE’s own
staff, Strathclyde police and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“Our thoughts are with the relatives of those who died.
“With regard to pipeline safety, it should be noted that HSE served an improvement
notice in September 2000 to accelerate Transco’s mains replacement programme.
This resulted in the replacement of all known sections of the sort of main
that ruptured at Larkhall in the three years after the accident. In other
words, some 2,500 km of ductile iron medium pressure gas mains were replaced
by plastic pipeline.
“The conviction sends a message not just to Transco but to all operators
of hazardous plant of the need to keep accurate records, operate effective
management systems and properly maintain pipelines and equipment ”
Notes to Editors
On 22 December 1999 at 5.30am a massive explosion destroyed the house at
42 Carlisle Road, Larkhall. The house had been occupied by the Findlay family,
Andrew (34), Janette (37), Stacey (13) and Daryl (11), all of whom were killed
in the blast.
There was extensive damage to neighbouring properties. A strong smell of
gas in the immediate aftermath of the explosion lead to enquiry focussing
upon a possible gas leak as the cause of the explosion.
An investigation by officials from the Health and Safety Executive showed
that there were holes in the 250mm medium pressure ductile iron pipe that
ran through the front garden of number 42.
Gas leaking form the main found its way into the under-floor void and subsequently
the kitchen of the property where it ignited. The precise source of ignition
could not be determined but could have been a gas hob or other source in
the kitchen.
The subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inquiry and initial police
investigation were extensive. The results were reported to the Procurator
Fiscal at Hamilton on 15 September 2000.
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK SCOTLAND Contact:
Paul Burgess 0131 244 9060 / Mobile 07974 668 267
www.gnn.gov.uk
Oliver Glackin 020 7717 6016
Out of Hours 020 7928 8382
