Contractor fined after explosion at domestic property

Lanark Sheriff Court heard that Turriff Contractors had been contracted to construct and install a gas main on a residential street. The court also heard that, on 25 March 2012, the gas main Turriff constructed and installed failed and caused extensive damage to a bungalow on the street, injuring the two occupants of the bungalow escaped with minor injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the cause of the explosion was due to the poor construction of the gas main in 2007, the company also failed to adequately supervise the construction and installation of this gas main.

It was found that the gas main was constructed near to a low voltage electrical cable which later short circuited and the heat generated from this caused the release of natural gas subsequently leading to the gas explosion.

Turriff Contractors, of Stepps, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 3(1) and 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.