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Total charged after oil depot explosion

Oil giant Total will face charges of £750 million after being found liable for damages caused by the Buncefield oil depot explosion in Hertfordshire in 2005.

The company has been judged to have caused the accident through inadequate fire risk assessment and poor health and safety regulation.

Forty-three people were injured in the explosion, which measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and was heard 125 miles away, the loudest explosion ever in peace-time Europe.

Total claimed that partner company Chevron should share the blame for the health and safety inadequacies, however the judge found that all aspects of the safety operations at the depot were ran by Total.

Head office staff were criticised for failing to provide fire risk assessment for the oil tank which was overfilled, causing the explosion.

A car garage in Lincolnshire was recently fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £9,000 in legal fees after a fireball caused a work experience student to suffer severe burns after failing to provide suitable fire risk assessment.

Quantum Risk Management is a leading Health and Safety consultant

Posted on 23/03/2009

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