HSE hopes 'lessons can be learnt' from SouthGate blaze
- Published: 01 October 2008 11:25
- Author: Rhiannon Hoyle
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 01 October 2008 12:29
The Health and Safety Executive has said it hopes lessons can be learnt from the blaze which damaged Sir Robert McAlpine's £360 million SouthGate development in Bath last week.
The fire at the major retail scheme brought the city centre to a standstill last Tuesday after a tar heater caught light, causing four gas canisters to explode and shoot flames into the air.
A HSE spokeswoman said the safety regulator was continuing to make "further enquires into the circumstances surrounding the incident".
She said: "HSE will be focussing on the management of fire risks and on general fire precautions on site. It will also be reviewing investigation reports from the contractors and the Fire and Rescue Service.
"[We are] seeking to establish how the fire occurred and identify key learning points from this incident which can be carried across to other construction sites."
No one was hurt in the incident, but surrounding streets were closed and dozens of local residents had to be evacuated overnight.
The fire began during asphalting operations on the roof of Block B.
