Health and Safety Executive and police launch probe into fatal Bedford gas incident
The Health and Safety Executive and Bedfordshire Police have launched a probe into a gas incident in Bedford yesterday afternoon, in which a man died at the scene.
The incident, which happened at an industrial unit on Brunel Road on July 23 at just after 3pm, involved a bank of 12 oxygen cylinders.
Police have confirmed that a man in his thirties was pronounced dead at the scene, while a second man was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Several other people were assessed by paramedics.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reported that nine fire crews attended the incident, which involved the high-pressure release of oxygen.
A fifty-metre cordon was initially put in place, but this was reduced to the immediate vicinity once the cylinders were fully vented.
Firefighters used gas monitors to check gas readings and a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots.
In a statement Bedfordshire Police told the Citizen: “Enquiries are ongoing as part of a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones at this sad time.”
A Health and Safety Executive spokesperson told the Citizen: “We are making enquiries alongside Bedfordshire Police as part of a joint investigation.”