§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the report of the Health and Safety Executive on the Putney gas explosion will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley[pursuant to his reply, 16 July 1985, c. 70]: The report by the Health and Safety 662W Executive to the Health and Safety Commission of the investigation into the Putney explosion on 10 January 1985 at Newnham House, Manor Fields, Putney, is published today. I have placed a copy in the Library.
The investigation finds that gas escaped from a crack in the 150 mm grey cast iron gas main buried at the rear of the building. The crack was probably caused by a combination of stresses from heavy vehicles and ground subsidence acting upon the pipe which rested on the concrete encasement of a drain, which had the effect of concentrating the stresses at the point where the pipe cracked.
Although the number of serious gas explosions involving mains is small, the investigation indicates that the British Gas Corporation needs to re-examine its priorities for the replacement of grey cast iron mains, taking into account the factors which contributed to this tragedy. This re-examination will need to take into consideration the level of expenditure required for an adequate programme of replacement. When it is completed, the corporation will be expected to justify publicly its conclusions. This is the main recommendation of the report.
The report also recommends that action is taken at Manor Fields to replace the gas mains there and to reconstruct the roads to an adequate load-bearing standard.
Additionally, the HSE has commenced work on drawing up guidance to the construction industry on the safeguards required when working near cast iron gas mains. I am asking the HSC to follow up the recommendations made by HSE and to satisfy itself that they are implemented as soon as possible.