Five companies are to face prosecution following what is described as a “thorough and complex” investigation into the explosions and subsequent fire at the Buncefield oil storage depot in Hemel Hempstead in 2005.
Criminal proceedings have been commenced against Total UK Ltd, Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd; British Pipeline Agency Ltd; TAV Engineering Ltd; and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd, following the investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
Total UK is facing three charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Water Resources Act 1991; Hertforshire Oil Storage Ltd is facing two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Water Resources Act; British Pipeline Agency Ltd is facing one charge under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 and s33(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and another charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act; TAV Engineering Ltd is facing one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act; and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd is facing one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
A fire began at around 6.00am on Sunday 11 December 2005 following a number of explosions and was only extinguished four days later. 40 people were injured and many surrounding buildings were destroyed or badly damaged.
The initial court date has been fixed for 23 January 2009 at West Hertfordshire Magistrates Court.
