§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make the HSE findings on the recent explosion at the Sonae factory in Kirby available in the Library as soon as they are concluded. [68355]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
Responsibility for health and safety matters rests with the Department for Transport.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the dust explosion which occurred on 1 June 2002 at the Sonae (UK) Ltd factory in Kirby is extensive and still continuing.
1008WWhen the investigation is complete HSE will make the findings available in the House Library.
§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the improvement notices the HSE have issued to the Sonae factory in Kirby. [68351]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
As a result of the dust explosion on 1 June 2002, two enforcement notices were issued on plant and systems at the Sonae (UK) Ltd factory in Kirby.
A prohibition notice was issued on 25 June 2002. It prohibits the restarting of the plant involved in the recent explosion until a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with this plant is carried out.
An improvement notice was issued on 28 June 2002. It requires the company to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with wood dust in the other production areas on site not affected by the explosion. Compliance with this notice is to be achieved by 12 August 2002.
Four other enforcement notices have been served on the company:
May 2001—an improvement notice on work in confined spaces;September 2001—a prohibition notice on the wood chip fuel feed area, following an explosion;November 2001—an improvement notice concerning automatic self—propelled transfer carriages;June 2002—an improvement notice on the safe use of industrial lift trucks.