Alleged failings of the fire service in the hours before the Haut du Mont explosion include using devices to detect gas which were not nationally compliant, the Magistrate’s Court heard this morning.

The States Employment Board – the government body responsible for employing public servants – was formally charged in court today with two health and safety offences in relation to the blast in December 2022.

The two offences under the island’s Health and Safety at Work Law relate to the response of the Emergency Services Control Centre and the Fire and Rescue Service in the hours before the explosion in the early hours of 10 December 2022.

The charges concern the SEB’s duties to ensure the health and safety of its own employees, and to those not in its employment.

Giving more details of those charges in the Magistrate’s Court, Crown Advocate Paul Lee said that they related to several alleged failings.

These include the failure to appropriately triage calls, inadequate supervision of emergency control room controllers, inadequate training, and the absence of policy in relation to dealing with gas-related calls.

Alleged failings of the Fire and Rescue Service include an absence of local policy when attending gas calls, and using devices to detect gas which were not nationally compliant.

After hearing an outline of the facts, Magistrate Bridget Shaw said that the case was too serious for the Magistrate’s Court and she sent the case to the Royal Court.

Advocate Debbie Corbel represented the States Employment Board. Chief Fire Officer Paul Brown was also in court.

The SEB was ordered to appear in the Royal Court on Tuesday 4 November for a pre-sentencing hearing.

In a statement this morning, Mr Brown said: “We remain deeply saddened by the tragic events of 10 December 2022 at Haut du Mont and continue to fully support the investigations that have taken place.”

He added: “While I cannot comment further until the legal process is concluded, my thoughts, indeed those of us all, remain with all those who have been affected by this tragic event.”

Deputy Malcolm Ferey, Vice Chair of the SEB, said: “While we cannot comment further until the legal process has concluded, my sincere thoughts and prayers remain with the families, friends and all those who have been affected by this unprecedented and tragic event.”