£9.5m bill for firms behind Britain’s most costly industrial disaster19 July 2010

Five companies were together fined a total of nearly £10 million last month (16 July) for their part in the Buncefield oil depot disaster on 11 December 2005 – a figure that was immediately described as derisory by local residents and affected companies

The HSE estimates the total cost to date of the fire and explosion at more than £1 billion, including the long-term pollution damage caused – making it the most costly industrial incident in the UK.

Concluding a four-month trial at St Albans Crown Court, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said the companies had shown "a slackness, inefficiency and a more or less complacent attitude to safety".

The prosecution of Total UK, British Pipeline Agency, Hertfordshire Oil Storage, TAV Engineering and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 followed the most complex investigation ever conducted by the HSE and Environment Agency.

That uncovered a series of serious failings that led to thousands of gallons of petrol being released in a large vapour cloud – with the resulting explosion registering 2.4 on the Richter scale, injuring 43 people and destroying nearby businesses.

Kevin Myers, HSE's deputy chief executive, said: "Major hazard industries must learn the lessons of events like this. From the board room down, companies must ask themselves these questions: do we understand what could go wrong; do we know what our systems are to prevent this happening; and are we getting the right information to assure us they are working effectively."

Howard Davidson, Thames director at the Environment Agency, added: "As a result of a successful investigation and prosecution, five companies have today been held to account for their failures.

"The Buncefield blast shattered the local community and left a long-term legacy of pollution. It has already involved a five-year clean up operation by the oil companies involved and the Environment Agency will be a presence around the site for many years to come."

Total UK had already pleaded guilty to three offences and was fined £3.6 million and ordered to pay costs of £2.6 million. British Pipeline Agency pleaded guilty to two offences and was fined £300,000 for environmental offences and ordered to pay costs of £480,000.

Hertfordshire Oil Storage was found guilty of two offences and fined £1.4 million with costs of £1 million.

TAV Engineering, which designed a crucial safety switch that failed, was found guilty of one offence, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £500 costs.

Installation and maintenance company Motherwell Control Systems 2003 was also fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £500 after being found guilty of one offence.

Brian tinham

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Health & Safety Executive

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