Updated: Man dead after oil refinery explosion (VIDEO)

AN investigation was launched today following an explosion and fire at an oil refinery on the Humber which left a 24-year-old man dead.

The man, who has not been named but is thought to be from Grimsby, was working close to a crude oil distillation unit which caught alight then exploded at the Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR), in North Killingholme, north Lincolnshire, at about noon yesterday.

More than 50 firefighters were called to the plant where black smoke was seen billowing from burning crude oil.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Today, a number of contractors working at the neighbouring ConocoPhillips Humber Refinery walked out citing safety concerns following the incident at LOR.

Union sources said the workers decided to stage a one-day walkout because they believed the use of the Humber Refinery's firefighting teams at the LOR blaze yesterday left the Humber plant vulnerable.

A spokeswoman for ConocoPhillips said the walkout did not involve any of the firm's staff. She said the workers involved were contract scaffolders working for an outside firm.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "Formal identification of the deceased is yet to take place, however the body is believed to be that of a 24-year-old Grimsby man and police family liaison officers have been in contact with the family of that man.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Police scenes of crimes officers, detectives and officers from the Health and Safety Executive will all attend at the LOR site today to commence the investigation along with the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and the company."

Fire officers said 10 appliances were brought in to tackle the blaze.

People living in a large area surrounding the plant reported hearing the explosion.

Employees said the fire started in a superheated industrial heater close to where they walked to work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a statement oil company Total, which runs LOR, said: "It is with deep regret that Total Lindsey Oil Refinery can confirm that there has been a fatality following the fire and explosion at 11.57.

"The deceased has yet to be formally identified.

"Formal investigations have been launched by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

"We are fully co-operating with these inquiries in order to understand exactly why this tragic incident occurred."

Two people were treated for minor injuries following the blast. One was taken to the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police initially warned residents to stay indoors and keep their windows closed but people have since been told they can safely leave their homes.

The parts of the refinery affected by the explosion have been shut down and safely isolated, Total said.

All other areas remain operational.

A union spokesman said the explosion called into question the oil company's safety record.

Phil Whitehurst, GMB lead organiser for engineering construction, said: "The fire started in a heater where the oil is heated to a colossal temperature.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The heater was adjacent to where the workforce at the new HDS-3 plant go to work.

"That's why the workers were fragmented into small groups at the muster points and why it took so long for the roll call to be completed.

"Total has just been fined heavily after the Buncefield explosion and now they have another one at Lindsey.

"This brings into question Total's safety record yet again.

"They have to be held accountable."

LOR hit the headlines last year when hundreds of contractors walked out in a dispute over foreign workers.

Related topics: