The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out an investigation into the fire and subsequent blast at Highlands Farm in Essex.
Our response
On Friday 24 July, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was notified by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service of an incident at an industrial unit at Highlands Farm, near Rettendon in Essex.
Our inspectors have since been in contact with Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, which is leading the response to the incident, as well as with Essex Police, to establish information about the nature of the incident and the ongoing response at the site.
Our investigation
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for establishing whether there has been any breach of workplace health and safety regulations – this could include factors which contributed to the fire and subsequent explosion, or other aspects relating to the site and incident response.
HSE has now formally opened an investigation into the explosion. As part of this investigation and to establish the cause of the explosion, HSE inspectors are making enquiries with residents, examining the scene, and working with Essex County Fire & Rescue Service so our specialists can safely access the site.
Co-operation with other agencies
The focus of HSE’s investigation is to establish whether there has been any breach of workplace health and safety regulations.
In carrying out our own investigation, our inspectors continue to work in close co-operation with Essex County Fire & Rescue Service as its firefighters work to bring the site to a safe resolution.
| Notes to Editors
· Management and safe access to the site is being overseen by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, which is leading the response to the incident. · HSE’s investigation relates to potential breaches of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety.
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