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The ICL Inquiry

Completed

ICL Inquiry

Chair Lord Gill Judge / Judiciary
Established 27 Apr 2009
Final Report 16 Jul 2009
Commissioned by Scottish Government

Inquiry into the Stockline Plastics factory explosion in Glasgow on 11 May 2004 which killed 9 workers. Found that corroded LPG pipework caused the explosion. Described as "short, sharp and hard-hitting" - completed in 13 months at £1.9m cost.

Evidence & Impact
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.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- Nationwide programme to replace buried metallic LPG service pipework at industrial and commercial premises, with higher-risk premises prioritised by 2013 and all replacements completed by 2015
- Enhanced installation records and supplier asset registers for LPG installations to improve safety oversight
- Establishment of regular meetings between senior representatives of HSE and UKLPG to strengthen communication channels
- Development of web-based guidance for LPG users on meeting their statutory safety obligations
- HSE-funded research into polyethylene piping safety with published guidance for domestic LPG customers
- Nationwide inspection initiative to verify compliance with LPG safety standards
Unfinished Business
- Formal accredited registration scheme for LPG suppliers as envisaged by Lord Gill - whilst accepted in principle with 70% stakeholder support, no evidence of implementation beyond references to work on a supplier register
Generated 10 Mar 2026 using AI. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
2 months Duration
£1.9m Total Cost
Government Response
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 1
Not Accepted 1
Total Recommendations 7
Data last updated: 31 Dec 2015 · Source
Data verified: 24 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

1 question since Dec 2025
Written Question ICL Inquiry
Simon Hoare (Conservative)
02 Dec 2025
All Activity (1)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
The ICL Inquiry Report: Explosion at Grovepark Mills, Maryhill, Glasgow, 11 May 2004 Final 16 Jul 2009 7
18 Dec 2008
Inquiry Announced
27 Apr 2009
Inquiry Established
17 Dec 2016
Final Report Published
Clear

Recommendations (1)

ICL-4
Not Accepted
Independent Risk Assessment Audit
Recommendation

The current risk assessment system should be improved by the addition of an independent audit process.

Published evidence summary
The government did not accept this recommendation, citing strong stakeholder opposition (78%) to mandatory independent audits of all risk assessments, and 62% opposition for LPG-only audits (Cm. 7849, 2010-03-18). The government concluded that the case for mandatory independent audits of workplace risk assessments had not been made, and that other proposed measures for LPG installations meant such an audit was not required (Cm. 7849, 2010-03-18). However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) established an Expert Panel in 2010 to independently review the progress of the pipework replacement programme and recommend revised priorities and timescales, which the government accepted (Health and Safety Executive, 2015-12-31). No further published evidence has been identified since 2015.
Health and Safety Executive (Primary)
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