January 4, 2018

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Celsa explosion: No manslaughter charges over deaths

There is insufficient evidence to support gross or corporate manslaughter charges over the deaths of two men in a steelworks explosion, BBC News has reported.

Peter O’Brien, 51, from Llanishen, and Mark Sim, 41, of Caldicot, died at Celsa UK in Cardiff in November 2015.

South Wales Police said the decision follows a thorough investigation.

The HSE is now leading a criminal inquiry into whether health and safety regulations were breached.

Thorough

The blast happened in the basement of the plant’s rod and bar mill, where five men were also injured.

South Wales Police said: “Following a thorough joint investigation by South Wales Police and the HSE, the Crown Prosecution Service found insufficient evidence to support gross or corporate manslaughter charges.”

A spokesperson for the HSE said: “The Health and Safety Executive now has primacy for the criminal investigation into the explosion at Celsa Manufacturing UK Ltd in Splott, Cardiff, on 18 November 2015.

“We fully supported South Wales Police following this incident. Now that we are in the lead, HSE will be responsible for liaison with the families of Peter O’Brien and Mark Sim.

“We have assured them, and indeed make it clear to all affected by this incident, that our investigation will be a thorough one, while also recognising the desire for a speedy conclusion.”

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T J Griffiths
T J Griffiths
6 years ago

2 years after it happened, HSE ‘recognise the need for a speedy conclusion’.
Am I the only one who finds this an awful state of affairs – Is there nothing that we can do as a society to do this sort of investigation quicker?