---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the Health and Safety Audit of operations at the SARP (UK) Ltd. plant at Killamarsh, Derbyshire, and the reports of the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency into incidents of the escape of acid vapour at the plant on 14 and 30 May 1998; and if he will make a statement. [106458] Mr. Meacher: The investigations into the two incidents involving chemical releases at SARP UK were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive as a joint exercise with the Environment Agency. SARP UK was prosecuted in relation to those incidents and the penalties and costs awarded against the company were £120,000 and £150,000 respectively--a measure of how seriously the Court viewed these offences. In addition a detailed inspection of activities on the site was subsequently carried out resulting in a large number of recommendations for improvement of health and safety. The report of the investigation and of the findings of the inspection are being made public in a report published by the HSE so that the lessons can be understood by other companies. The report will be available from 3 February at the HSE Information Centres in London, Bootle and Sheffield. It will also be available at the Environment Agency Library in Bristol. I am placing copies in the Library of both Houses.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

106458; 343 c147-8W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Contamination Chemicals Inquiries Health hazards Health and safety Hazardous substances Prosecutions Sarp UK

Contains statistics

Yes