The ICL Inquiry

The ICL Inquiry was established following the explosion at ICL Plastics Ltd in Glasgow on 11 May 2004, which killed nine people and injured 33. Lord Gill's inquiry identified that corrosion of underground metallic service pipes was the key factor in the explosion and made seven recommendations to improve LPG safety across the UK.

The government's response in March 2010 (Cm. 7849) accepted five recommendations fully, one in principle, and rejected one. The rejection concerned mandatory independent audits of workplace risk assessments, which the government concluded was unnecessary given 78% stakeholder opposition and the view that other proposed measures would achieve the safety objectives.

Implementation has been largely successful. The centrepiece reform - a nationwide programme to replace buried metallic LPG service pipework - was completed by the 2015 deadline, covering up to 40,000 premises. HSE worked closely with UKLPG (UK LPG Association) to prioritise higher-risk premises by 2013. Supporting reforms included enhanced installation records, supplier registers, web-based guidance for LPG users, and regular communication channels between HSE and industry bodies.

The one area of incomplete implementation concerns recommendation ICL-3 on establishing an accredited registration scheme for LPG suppliers. While the government accepted this in principle, noting 70% stakeholder support, and asked HSE to consult on options ranging from formal third-party accreditation to a charter of standards, no evidence has been identified of such a scheme being established. The HSE website references work on a supplier register, but this falls short of the formal accreditation scheme Lord Gill envisaged.

The inquiry's impact on LPG safety has been substantial, with the pipework replacement programme representing a significant infrastructure upgrade. The strengthened regulatory framework, improved guidance, and enhanced communication between regulators and industry have created lasting improvements to LPG safety management across industrial and commercial premises.