Two companies have pleaded guilty to violating industrial safety legislation for their part in a 2004 explosion that killed nine people at a Glasgow plastics factory.
ICL Plastics, which owned the factory and one of its units, vacuum former ICL Tech Ltd., will be sentenced at a two-day hearing that begins Aug. 27 in Glasgow's High Court.
At a preliminary hearing in July, investigators revealed that the explosion was caused by leaking gas that fed industrial ovens at the site.
The explosion has become associated with another ICL unit, Stockline Plastics Ltd., because that company's name was on the building that was destroyed. Stockline, which is ICL's distribution business, actually occupied an adjacent building.
Four women and five men lost their lives in the explosion. The indictment against the two companies said the blast also injured 33 people.
In an Aug. 17 statement, ICL Plastics and ICL Tech said they have cooperated with government health and safety officials, and remain committed to maintaining employment and business relationships, ``which provide the stability and opportunity necessary for us all to move forward.''
