Firms admit failings after refinery blast deaths

TWO companies have admitted failings in their health and safety procedures after four people died in an oil refinery explosion in Pembrokeshire.

Valero Energy UK Ltd and B&A Contracts Ltd appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon.

The charges related to an explosion at the Pembroke oil refinery on June 2, 2011, which killed Dennis Riley, 52, Robert Broome, 48, Andrew Jenkins, 33, and Julie Jones, 54.

A fifth worker, Andrew Phillips, was severely injured in the incident, which was caused by an exploding storage tank. At the time the refinery was operated by Chevron Limited.

Valero, which took on ownership of the Pembroke refinery in August 2011, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare at work of all employees and failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare at work on non-employees.

Both charges were for dates between February 17, 1999, and June 3, 2011.

B&A Contracts Ltd also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare at work of all employees and failing to ensure the health and safety and welfare at work of non-employees for a period between October 6, 2010, and June 3, 2011.

The charges were brought by the Health & Safety Executive after a thorough investigation.

Family members of the four who died were present at court.

Valero and B&A Contracts Ltd are now due to appear at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing on November 2.