Laing O'Rourke site blast: injured worker remains critical

One of the workers injured in the explosion on a Laing O'Rourke site in Hertfordshire last week remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. 

The other worker kept in hospital has now been discharged, an official Laing O'Rourke statement said.

Following the explosion, work was halted on the data centre job in Welwyn Garden City where Laing O'Rourke's Crown House division is main contractor.

A spokesman for Laing O'Rourke said it was still too early to be "definitive" about when work would restart.

"Work will resume once all the necessary checks and HSE activities related to an incident of this nature have been concluded, and the site is passed safe for work to continue," he said.

"When appropriate we will affect a phased and orderly return to work to ensure delivery of the scheme."

One worker was killed in the accident, and another seven injured, of whom two were kept in hospital. All were direct Laing O'Rourke employees.

The man killed in the explosion was named as plumber Adam Johnston of Sutton.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing.