Findings released on Shrewsbury gas explosion

Date:

25 January 2011

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today released a report of its investigation into the explosion in Shrewsbury town centre on 3 January 2010.

HSE's investigation has revealed no evidence of any breach of relevant safety legislation and consequently HSE will not be taking any enforcement action in this case.

The explosion at 1-5 Bridge Street resulted in six people suffering major injury while a number of properties in the area sustained significant damage. A number of people also suffered minor injuries.

HSE conducted a thorough investigation into the reasons for the explosion and has concluded that:

• Mains gas leaked from a fractured low pressure cast iron gas main located in the footway immediately in front of 1-5 Bridge Street.
• The gas accumulated within 1-5 Bridge Street and was ignited by a source within the building leading to the explosion.
• Stresses imposed by the local ground conditions near to the main may have contributed to the unpredicted failure of the main.
• There is no evidence of failures by the pipeline operator or any other company or individual to warrant prosecution.

Under law gas operators are required to maintain their networks in a safe condition. Many older gas mains are made from cast iron, a programme is in place to decommission and replace it with new polyethylene (yellow) pipes.

The lead HSE investigating Inspector Nicola Wade said:

"This has been a complex investigation, involving many hours of work and forensic analysis to understand exactly what happened on 3 January 2010.

"The most likely cause of the explosion is that gas escaped from the fractured gas main and ignited nearby, despite no previous reports of a gas leak in the area. The gas main was correctly classified as low risk, it had been subject to stresses over time, causing a fracture.

I would like to thank all those who assisted with the investigation, in particular those injured in the explosion and their families. West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service and Shropshire County Council were crucial in coordinating the rescue effort and making the area safe, allowing further investigation and repair work to be completed."

A copy of the report summary can be found on HSE's website at (http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/supply/shrewsbury-explosion-report.pdf

Notes to editors

1. HSE is Britain's national regulator for workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace.
2. The Gas industry has been progressing a UK-wide gas mains replacement policy for many years. Further information can be found on HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/supply/information.htm
3. In December 2005, HSE issued an enforcement policy in relation to the 30 year mains replacement policy "Enforcement Policy for the replacement of iron gas mains 2006-2013". Further details can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/supply/mainsreplacement/irongasmain.htm
4. Further details on HSE Enforcement Policy can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
5. Please note that advice to gas consumers remains unchanged. If you suspect there is a gas leak you should immediately:- Call the National Gas Emergency Freephone number on 0800 111 999. Open all the doors and windows. Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is and it is safe to do so)
6. Under the Pipelines Safety Regulation [PSR] 1996, regulation 13, gas conveyors are required to maintain their networks in a safe condition

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