A former oil tanker driver who claims he was hurt during the Buncefield oil depot explosion is seeking personal injury compensation from Total UK.
Bruce Rice, 50, was pulling into the staff car park on December 11th 2005 when the blast ripped through the storage tanks, according to a report in the London Evening Standard.
Mr Rice – who was working as a contractor for the Wincanton Group – says that the force generated by the explosion rocked his car, causing spinal problems. These led to him developing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He is now suing Total UK for £1m to compensate for his suffering and ‘significant injuries.’
Last month, the companies involved in the Buncefield oil depot disaster were fined record amounts for health and safety failures that led to the explosion.
Total were fined £6.2m while Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited was ordered to pay £2.4m and the British Pipeline Agency has to pay £780,000. Motherwell Control Systems 2003 and TAV Engineering were both fined £1,500.
Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning criticised the lack of compensation given to homeowners and businesses forced to evacuate when the explosion occurred.
Many firms still have claims pending due to loss of business after the prolonged closure.
