VAN BLAST WAS ACCIDENT
An explosion that killed a welder in Weardale last year was an accident, an inquest has found.
Andy Herd died almost instantly when oxyacetylene cylinders in the back of his van exploded shortly after he left his Wolsingham home early in the morning of May 26, last year.
The 33-year-old was heading for work at Ward Bros, in Langley Moor, when the explosion occurred, causing extensive damage to shops and homes in Wolsingham town centre.
Coroner Andrew Tweddle directed the jury at an inquest in Darlington yesterday (Thursday) to return a verdict of accidental death.
The coroner said he had attended the scene on the day of the incident, and likened what he saw to “a terrorist outrage”.
“The scene of utter devastation was beyond belief,” he said. “It is also beyond belief that we are dealing here with the death of one person.”
He added: “If this explosion happened in the middle of a city, we could be faced with 200 deaths.”
The coroner will write to the relevant authorities to recommend the transportation of volatile substances such as acetylene, be addressed.
“The evidence we have heard has given me concern about the transportation of these cylinders,” he said.
The inquest had heard that Mr Herd’s van had not been modified to meet ventilation guidelines, but that there were no legislative requirements for these guidelines to be met.
Richard Bulmer, head of the HSE's North East Investigation Team, said: "We put out an alert last year following this tragic death stating that acetylene bottles are best carried in open-topped vehicles; if an enclosed vehicle is used it should have adequate ventilation.
A Prohibition Notice was also served. Mrs Ridgeway-Buckley, HM Inspector of Health and Safety has conducted her own Health and Safety at Work investigation and has been assisting the coroner at this inquest. She will now finalise her report in the light of the inquest and we will then be considering whether or not health and safety charges should be laid."