Total pleads guilty to Buncefield on three charges
The trial of three companies over the explosion at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in 2005 began on Wednesday 14 April 2010. A further two companies, including, Total UK Ltd, have pleaded guilty to charges
On Sunday 11 December 2005, a number of explosions occurred at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
At least one of the initial explosions was of massive proportions and there was a large fire. More than 40 people were injured.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency (EA) are jointly prosecuting five companies. HSE and EA are the 'Competent Authority' responsible for regulating non-nuclear major hazardous industrial sites in the UK under the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 (COMAH).
The three companies on trial are:
* Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd, of 40 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, has pleaded not guilty to two charges.
* TAV Engineering Ltd, of The Oriel, Sydenham Road, Guildford, Surrey, has pleaded not guilty to one charge.
* Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Ltd, c/o Rooney Associates 2nd Floor, 19 Castle Street, Liverpool, is facing one charge, a not guilty plea was entered by the judge on the company's behalf as it is in administration.
Two companies have already pleaded guilty to charges over the incident:
* Total UK Ltd, of 40 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, has pleaded guilty to three charges.
* British Pipeline Agency Ltd, of 5–7 Alexandra Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, has pleaded guilty to two charges.
