Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Risk assessments on gas pipes where nine people died in an explosion were carried out by a student doing vacation work, the High Court in Glasgow heard.
The blast at the Stockline plastics factory was caused by a build-up of liquid petroleum gas which leaked from pipes installed in 1969. The court heard it would have cost just £405 to replace the pipes that corroded and caused the explosion.
The court heard that risk assessments at the factory had not specifically investigated the condition of the underground pipe work.
The gas vapour built up in a basement area and may have ignited when a labourer switched on a light when he went into the basement to pick up his tools. The blast caused the collapse of the four-storey former Victorian mill. ICL Plastics and ICL Tech have admitted four breaches of health and safety laws over the incident in May 2004, and will be sentenced today.
Mike Jones QC, defending the two companies, said that the tragedy was attributable to "inadvertence rather than anything more blameworthy". He asked the judge, Lord Brodie, to set the fine at a level which would prevent the companies from going bust.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments