Fengate Case Study

1. Fengate Case Study

2. Introduction At 09.45 on 22March 1989 a vehicle carrying approximately 800 Kg of mixed explosives exploded at the premises of Vibroplant Ltd on the Fengate Industrial Estate, Peterborough

3. Introduction The explosion caused the death of a Firefighter and injuries to at least 107 other people, 84 of whom received hospital treatment. Two of the injured were admitted to intensive care.

4. The Aftermath

6. Le Maitre Vibroplant Vibroplant

8. Legislation in Use Before the Incident • Order of the Secretary of State - Number 11 (to replace numbers 4, 4a, 4b, and 4c) Explosives Act 1857(38 vict.c 17) Order of Secretary of State no 11, dated September 20 1924, making bylaws as to the conveyance of explosives on roads, and in certain special cases. • Home Sales Depot - Working regulations and operating instructions for depot personnel and vehicle crews. • Revised January 1st 1979 • Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited (ICI)

11. The Cargo On leaving the depot, the van was fully loaded with explosives and detonators. 1-20: 20 fibreboard boxes of Powergel 700 (slurry type explosive)(25kg each) 21-26: 6 fibreboard boxes of Powergel 800 (slurry type explosive) (25 kg each) 27-29: Fibreboard boxes of Ammon Gelit (Nitro-glycerin type explosive) (25kg each) 30-34: 5 fibreboard boxes of Magna Primers 35: Fibreboard box of non-explosive wire 36-41:3 plywood boxes of electric detonators and 3 empty 42-44: 3 wooden boxes of Cerium fuse head combs each containing 2 steel boxes 45: 1 wooden box of Vulcan fuse heads containing 10 steel boxes

12. The Journey Vibroplant Fengate, Peterborough ECC Quarry Croft, Leic Peter Benni Merriman Quarry ICI 33 Miles 3.5 Miles 55 Miles

13. LeMaitre Vibroplant Route the van should have taken Route the van actually took

14. Van Entering Vibroplant Entrance 13m from brick perimeter wall Vibroplant Yard Speed Bump Depot Building

15. Van Entering Vibroplant

16. Initial Call received and PDA Mobilised 0933

17. Appliance Positions at Time of Call Vibroplant A143 A145 A163

18. Second Call Received 09:39:42

19. RV A145 RV Arrives 0940 13m from brick perimeter wall Vibroplant Yard Speed Bump Depot Building

20. KEY A Fm Humphries B Fm 1 C SubO 1 D Fm 2 E Fm 3 F SubO 2 G LFm 1 H Fm 4 I Fm 5 J Fm 6 K Fm 7 L Fm 8 45mm hose 70mm hose RV A145 Pumps Arrive 0943 Fengate L B D J A H C E A163 K I F G Depot Building A143

21. Explosion Occurred 09:45

23. RV A145 Explosion 0945 Fengate L B D J A H C E A163 K I F Depot Building A143

24. Blast Radius 60 m 40 m 20 m Vibroplant

25. People Involved 60 m 40 m 20 m Vibroplant Firefighter killed Persons outdoors at time of explosion and in the immediate vicinity

26. People Knocked Down by Blast 60 m 40 m 20 m Vibroplant People blown to the ground by the explosion

27. Perforated Eardrums 60 m 40 m 20 m Vibroplant Those who suffered perforated eardrums

33. A145

34. A145

35. A163

36. A163

37. A163

38. A143

40. Placarding of Vehicles Carrying Explosives Any vehicle carrying explosives now needs to have an explosives hazard warning triangle on the sides and back of the vehicle

42. John Humphries 22nd March 1989