Expert report slams ICL Working Pactices
Following the guilty pleas tendered by two companies, ICL Plastics Limited and ICL Tech Ltd families of the 9 killed and over 40 injured workers still require answers as to why their loved ones died in the worst workplace tragedy since Piper Alpha.
A propane gas oven and associated piping system had not been adequately maintained and the piping, which although galvanised had no additional anti corrosion treatment, was later buried under rubble and concrete to prevent flooding. The material used in this process also had corrosive properties and, ironically, the court heard that the subsidiary company ICL Tech Ltd could have treated metal pipes with the necessary coating to prevent them from rust.
Over the two day hearing families heard a limited account of failures by the two companies over a period spanning four decades including:
• Failure to appoint a competent person to provide advice on health and safety as the £2000 annual spend would not “add value” to the company.
• Missing the opportunity to replace the propane gas industrial oven with a mains gas appliance, approximate cost £18000 with an ongoing annual saving of £2000 in energy bills.
• Failing to replace the buried pipes with an above ground anti corrosive system at an estimated cost of £405.
A group of academics have produced an independent report on working conditions in the factory and it can be accessed here Full report (pdf)
The STUC continues to support the families of the victims in their calls for a wide ranging public inquiry that needs to cover both devolved and reserved matters, such as justice, health and safety and inadequate range of penalties available to courts in such cases.
The combined fine of £400000 may seem substantial but the judge, Lord Brodie, made it clear that no financial penalty could compensate for the losses inflicted on the families or the horrific and, in many cases, life threatening injuries suffered by survivors.
We would urge that readers support the families in their call for a public inquiry and contact their MSPs and urge them to support motion S3M-374#lodged by Patricia Ferguson MSP Glasgow Maryhill.