Lawyers join the search for answers
FAMILIES affected by the Bosley mill disaster have instructed lawyers to investigate the cause of the blast.
The explosion at Wood Treatment Limited on July 17 killed three workers – Will Barks, Derek Moore and Dorothy Bailey – and a fourth, Jason Shingler, is still missing.
Four others were taken to hospital and many of the remaining 30 employees on site with serious injuries and psychological trauma.
The Health and Safety Executive and police have mounted a joint investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Now the
families
of those who died in the explosion, as well as others left injured, have instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate.
Jonathan Betts, partner at Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office representing the families, said: “We’re supporting several families affected, either from losing their loved ones or those who have suffered physical and psychological injuries because of what happened.
“It will take some time for people to recover from the trauma of what happened and it is important that those who were injured get the help and rehabilitation they need.
“Many others caught up in the blast have also lost friends and colleagues and may need counselling or therapy to recover mentally from this tragedy.
“We will now be seeking to work with the authorities as we begin our own investigations into what happened and seek to provide the necessary support for the victims.”
Wood Treatment Ltd, part of the Boden Group, was warned of a risk of an explosion two years ago.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served an improvement notice on Wood Treatment Limited in 2013 after it noted it had failed to ensure the risk of fire or explosion from liquid petroleum gas stored at the plant in Bosley.
The company later complied with the notice.
Enforcement officers from Cheshire East Coun- cil were on the site just two weeks before the explosion to make sure the firm cleared the area after complaints of sawdust.
The site was also struck by two fires, in 2010 and 2012.
A statement released previously by Wood Treatment Limited, said: “We are committed to establishing the cause of this incident and we will continue to co-operate fully with the emergency services and Health and Safety Executive.”