Man still in hospital after Fox’s Biscuits explosion

24-Feb-2012 - Last updated on 24-Feb-2012 at 16:25 GMT

Production at the factory was restored at 3pm on Wednesday, but a man remains in hospital following the fire

Related tags Fox’s biscuits Tank West yorkshire

A worker remains in hospital following an explosion at Northern Foods’ Fox’s Biscuits factory in West Yorkshire as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) continues its investigation.

The man was rushed to Pinderfield Hospital after suffering burns to his legs following a fire at the factory on Wednesday (February 22). The HSE confirmed it was now working with the police and the fire service to establish the cause of the accident.

A HSE spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “We are now carrying out an investigation into an incident that occurred at the Fox’s Biscuits factory in Batley earlier this week. As the police are involved, they will investigate the possibility of any criminal activity and then hand it back to the HSE.”

Further announcements

The HSE also said it expected to make further announcements after the investigation had been thoroughly carried out.

Northern Foods said it was also carrying out an investigation into the accident that occurred when an oill storage tank was being decommissioned at the plant. The firm said that production had now been restored.

A spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Production was out for about four hours and restored at about 3pm yesterday. So it was only a temporary halt. An employee is still in hospital and we wish him a speedy recovery. We will be working closely with the HSE to establish a cause.”

Six other workers were taken to hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation, following the accident but they have now been released, according to the firm.

The 450 workers at the site were immediately evacuated as ambulance crews and the fire service arrived on the scene.

Reports of an explosion

A spokeswoman for the West Yorkshire fire service said: “We were called at 10.45am to reports of an explosion in a decommissioned oil tank in the yard.”

Northern Foods denied reports that the fire was caused by an explosion but confirmed that the accident was triggered by a spark in the tank after “something was poured on to it”.

“Contractors were draining and cleaning diesel tanks and there was a source of ignition that caused the incident,” the firm said in a statement.

“The response to the incident from colleagues on site was excellent, the evacuation was done quickly and orderly and we remained in control at all times.”

Northern Foods also claimed that its management of the situation had been commended by the chief fire officer on the scene.