Companies plead guilty following 2011 refinery explosion

Before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Valero Energy UK Limited and B & A Contracts Limited today pleaded guilty to charges under Sections 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974.

The charges relate to the deaths of Dennis Riley, Robert Broome, Andrew Jenkins and Julie Jones and major injuries to Andrew Phillips who were all working on the Amine Recovery Unit when an explosion and subsequent fire took place on 2 June 2011.

This prosecution has been brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The case is next due to be heard at Swansea Crown Court on 2 November 2018.

A HSE spokesperson said: “HSE acknowledges the defendants’ guilty plea but will not make a further comment until after sentencing.”

Notes to Editors

1.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk

2.More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk

3.HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk