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 a complex criminal investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. The initial court date has been fixed for 23 January 2009 at West Hertfordshire Magistrates Court, Hertfordshire.
On 11 December, 2005, a number of explosions occurred at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in Hemel Hempstead. At least one of the initial explosions was of massive proportion. There was a large fire and over 40 people were injured.
Following the explosion, a Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) was established by the Health and Safety Commission, supported by the Board of the Environment Agency, under section 14 (2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Lord Newton was appointed to chair the MIIB which has carried out an extensive investigation into the causes of the incident and ways to avoid similar incidents in the future and has published a number of reports.
Total UK Ltd face two charges on health and safety and one of pollution; Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd, faces a pollution charge and charges under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 and Health and Safety at Work Act; British Pipeline Agency Ltd faces charges under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations Health and Safety at Work Act and one of polluting the groundwater; TAV Engineering Ltd is facing one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act; and Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltdis facing one Health and Safety charge.
