The Crown Office and Health and Safety Executive have joined fire and police services in investigating the Shore Recycling blast which killed a worker and injured another.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the probe, adding that previous blazes at the Perth facility had resulted in reviews of safety measures.
She said: “I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of the individual who sadly passed away following the fire at Shore Recycling plant in Perth.
“Let me put on record my gratitude to our fire service and all who worked at the scene of this fire.
“The fire service confirmed previous incidents resulted in the review of on-site safety measures. They have initiated a joint investigation with the Crown Office and Police Scotland.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further until investigations conclude, but it is important that investigations do take place.”
A 46-year-old worker was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and his colleague rushed to Ninewells Hospital with serious injuries after the explosion and fire at Friarton Bridge Park at 12.40am on Tuesday.
His condition has been described as stable.
The fire was the third at the recycling centre – which deals with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), meaning any product with a plug, cable or battery including fridges– in the past two years.
A spokesman for the Crown Office told the PA yesterday: “The Procurator Fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 46-year-old man in Friarton, Perth on February 28, 2023.
“A joint investigation by Police Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is ongoing and once complete will be fully considered by the Crown’s Health and Safety Investigations Unit (HSIU).
“The family will be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”
Shore Recycling Ltd was founded in 2001 an is owned by Dunning-based Scottish butcher and businessman Simon Howie. It is the only facility in Scotland capable of recycling fridges.
Four fire crews spent over four hours extinguishing a fire at the site in April 2021.
The alarm was raised again at the facility at 4.30am on September 4, 2022. The fire self-ignited in a pile of electrical waste.
Local politicians have called for a public inquiry since the blast took place.
Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “There needs to be an inquiry to find out what has gone wrong and to prevent it from ever happening again so another family don’t find themselves in this situation.”
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said it needs to be made clear what measures were put in place following previous incidents.
He added that the community has been rocked by the tragedy so soon after three died in a fatal fire at The New County Hotel, the investigation into this is still underway.
He said: “The terrible explosion and fire at the Shore Recycling centre has stunned the whole of Perth, and for someone to lose their life so shortly after the tragic fire in the New County Hotel has just compounded the sense of shock.
“All of us in the city offer our condolences to the man’s family during this devastating time.
“We also hope for a speedy recovery to the other man who has been hospitalised by the incident.
“This is the third fire at the Shore Road site in less than two years, and what we now need is a full investigation into what happened, a proper examination into what measures were put in place following the previous incidents, and information on what the statutory authorities were doing to monitor the ongoing situation at Shore Road.”
Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said a wide-scale review into the ongoing fires should be considered because “this is not an isolated incident”.
“I was very saddened to hear of the tragic death of a man following the explosion and fire at the recycling site at Friarton, Perth,” he said.
“This was a very serious incident and I must commend the emergency services. There will need to be a fatal accident inquiry, and we also need to consider whether a wider investigation is required to look at why fires such as this at recycling centres are occurring, as this is not an isolated incident.
“Lessons have to be learned for the future to avoid any more loss of life.”
MP for Perthshire North John Swinney called for an investigation and said: “There have been multiple fires at this site over the past number of years, and it is therefore important that a full and robust investigation takes place to establish the facts of this explosion. “
Green Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell said he has called for “urgent updates” over the ”very concerning situation”.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to all those impacted,” he added.
“I am grateful to all the emergency services and other responding agencies for their professionalism.
“This is clearly a very concerning situation and I will be seeking urgent updates and to ask if it is in any way related to previous incidents in the area, and seeking talks with relevant bodies to establish the facts of what has happened.”
A joint investigation with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service into the cause has been launched.
Chief Inspector Tom Leonard, area commander for Perth and Kinross, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who has died at what is a very difficult time for them.
“I would like to thank members of the public, particularly road users, for their patience while our colleagues in the Scottish Fire and Rescue service work to put out the fire. Officers are continuing to liaise with other emergency services and partners while enquiries are carried out.”
The fire was eventually doused in the afternoon and the Friarton Bridge reopened to traffic after 14 hours.
Area commander Jason Sharp (below) is the SFRS’s local senior officer.
He said: “Sadly, one man was pronounced dead at the scene and our thoughts are with his family and the wider community at this time.
“One casualty was also passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.”
