Gas explosion report complete

Jul 2 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

THE findings of the public inquiry into the Stockline disaster have been handed over to Government Ministers.

Chairman of the inquiry, Lord Gill, has presented the report to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper.

Ministers will now consider the findings and give their response when the report is published later this month.

Nine workers died and 33 people were injured when there was an explosion at the ICL Plastics factory in Glasgow on May 11, 2004.

Among those who lost their lives as the building collapsed were Paisley dad Kenny Murray, 45, Johnstone man Timmy Smith, 31, and 52-year-old Peter Ferguson, from Kilbarchan.

Mr MacAskill said: “The Scottish Government is very grateful to Lord Gill and the ICL Inquiry Team for this report.

“I am glad to know that, in their closing submissions to the inquiry, bereaved and injured core participants made clear the process enabled them to gain a clear insight into what caused the explosion and that they feel the truth of what happened has been exposed.

“It is very important we all learn lessons from this tragic incident. I know that officials from both the Scottish Government and the DWP are working to ensure that Ministers can publish it as soon as possible.”

Ms Cooper added: “The recommendations in the report are for an improved safety regime for liquefied petroleum gas that seeks to minimise the risk of such an incident recurring in the future.

“This was a human tragedy. The report and its recommendations will now be considered to see what can be done to ensure better understanding and maintenance of LPG installations in places of work.”