Pressure Grows for Glasgow Blast Inquiry into HSE

The HSE, which is investigating with the police and the procurator fiscal the disaster which claimed the lives of nine people at ICL Plastics plc in Glasgow, is facing demands that its role be investigated in a public inquiry.

Critics believe the HSE's previous relationship with ICL, which has come in for strong criticism, should form part of the ongoing police investigation. However, the head of the HSE in Scotland, Stewart Campbell, said this was not going to happen.

Professor Andrew Watterson, a safety expert at Stirling University, believes a public inquiry is the best solution. He said: "You can't have the HSE policing itself if there is a question about regulation and enforcement." And Paul McBride QC, vice-chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "It is not appropriate for the HSE to be involved in making recommendations to the Crown about prosecutions if there are serious questions about their own inspection regime and conduct."

The HSE visited ICL's Maryhill plant at least five times before the explosion, including looking at leaking gas pipes. But ICL was given a clean bill of health to operate at the time of the tragedy. Last year, the HSE was called to the premises by concerned staff, but did not carry out a full inspection and revealed the identity of whistleblowers to company bosses.
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