HSE Opens Investigation Into Highlands Farm Explosion

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a formal investigation following a fire and explosion at Highlands Farm on 24 July. Inspectors are examining the scene, taking information from residents and working with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police to establish whether there were breaches of workplace health and safety law.

On Friday 24 July the Health and Safety Executive was notified by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service about a fire and subsequent blast at an industrial unit at Highlands Farm near Rettendon in Essex. HSE inspectors have been in contact with the fire service and with Essex Police and have now opened a formal investigation into the explosion.

HSE is responsible for determining whether workplace health and safety regulations were breached. As part of the inquiry inspectors are making enquiries with residents, examining the scene and working with the fire service so HSE specialists can access the site safely and establish factors that may have contributed to the incident.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is managing site operations and safe access while leading the immediate response. HSE says its investigation will consider potential breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain s national regulator for workplace health and safety.

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