THE States Employment Board will be charged with two offences over the handling of emergency calls and the actions of the Fire and Rescue Service on the day before the Haut du Mont explosion, it has emerged.
As the employer of Jersey’s public servants, the SEB is facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989, relating to alleged failures in their duties “to ensure the health and safety of employees” and “to ensure the health and safety of persons not in their employment, including the public”.
The charges are being brought before the Magistrate’s Court on September 25.
It follows a Health and Safety Inspectorate investigation into the actions of the Emergency Services Control Centre (Fire and Rescue) and the Fire and Rescue Service on Friday 9 December 2022, prior to the explosion at Haut du Mont in the early hours of 10 December 2022.
In a statement, SEB vice-chair Deputy Malcolm Ferey said: “We continue to fully respect the judicial process and the investigations that have taken place and remain committed to learning from their outcomes.
“Out of respect for the ongoing legal process and to ensure it is not compromised in any way, we are unable to make any further comment at this time.
“My sincere thoughts and prayers remain with the families, friends and all those who have been affected by this unprecedented and tragic event.”
And Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham stated that the Government was “determined to learn all possible lessons from the Health and Safety Inspectorate investigation” and that it was “committed to ensuring that every practical step is taken so that a tragedy of this nature can never happen again”.
“The tragic events at Haut du Mont on 10 December 2022 had a deep and lasting impact on our Island,” Deputy Farnham said.
“On behalf of the Government of Jersey, I again extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved families, the injured, the displaced residents, and to all Islanders who continue to live with the consequences of that devastating event.”
He added that, since December 2022, the government had been working closely with the States of Jersey Police and Andium Homes “to provide both emotional and practical support”.
“This has included assistance for displaced residents, access to professional support, and the facilitation of community meetings to ensure that those most affected are kept informed and engaged,” Deputy Farnham continued.
“We remain committed to supporting the bereaved families and displaced residents throughout the ongoing legal process, and we will continue to provide that support for as long as it is needed.”
Islanders Peter Bowler (72), Raymie Brown (71), Romeu and Louise De Almeida (67 and 64 years), Derek and Sylvia Ellis (61 and 73 years), Ken and Jane Ralph (72 and 71 years) and 62-year-old Billy Marsden died in the blast at Pier Road in December 2022.
Kathy McGinness (73), who lived in an adjacent block at Haut de Mont, was injured as a result of the explosion and died at the General Hospital on Christmas Day that year.
Earlier this year, three Island Energy employees entered not guilty pleas to ten manslaughter charges in connection with the incident.
Island Energy CEO Graeme Millar, who appeared on behalf of Jersey Gas, also denied two charges under the health and safety law.
