A construction director has been jailed after two brothers were killed following an explosion at an industrial park in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

Simon Thomerson, the sole owner and director of Clearview Design and Construction Ltd, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after brothers Ardian and Jashar Lamallari died during work to refurbish industrial units at the site in October 2015.

Luton Crown Court heard how Mr Thomerson's company had been contracted to carry out the work. Both Ardian and Jashar Lamallari had been employed as labourers and were working inside a unit at 4.45pm on 03 October 2015 when an explosive fire occurred within one of the units.

Both brothers suffered near 100% burns and died within 12 hours of the incident. A third man who was working with the pair also suffered sever burns, but survived.

A joint investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Thomerson had supplied the three men with several litres of highly flammable "thinners", which they then poured onto the floor of the unit to remove old dried carpet tile adhesive.

-- Advertisement --

The investigation found Mr Thomerson had given no serious consideration to the safe use of the thinners, despite the obvious warnings on the containers. The vapour spread over an area up to half the size of a tennis court and was ignited by one of several possible ignition sources that were in the area.

At court, Mr Thomerson, of Sutherland Avenue, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As well as being sentenced to eight months in prison, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: "This was a tragic event that led to the death of two men in absolutely horrific circumstances.

"We have worked closely with HSE and our other partner agencies to ensure that the failings by those in control of the site were identified and prosecuted and are satisfied that the sentence delivered today reflects the seriousness of those failings."

HSE inspector Paul Hoskins said: "This tragic incident led to the wholly avoidable death of two brothers, Ardian and Jashar, destroying the lives of their young families.

"The risks of using highly flammable liquids are well known, and employers should make sure they properly assess the risks from such substances, and use safer alternatives where possible. Where the use of flammable solvents is unavoidable, then the method and environment must be strictly controlled to prevent any ignition."

(LM/MH)