Building firm broke safety rules

The workers died after an explosion at a gym

A construction company has been found guilty of breaking health and safety regulations after two workers died in an explosion.

Antony Redfern, 40, and Glenn Whalley, 28, died of burns after the explosion at the Holmes Place Gym.

But the jury at Leicester Crown Court found two cleaning company bosses, Justin Amos, 42, and Norman Cliffe, 59, both of Nottingham, not guilty of manslaughter charges in the case.

Mr Amos runs Industrial Cleaning Services and Mr Cliffe runs Nightingale Cleaning, both of Nottingham.

Glenn Whalley was 28 when he was killed

The incident happened as the two men were cleaning changing rooms at the Nottingham gymnasium in October 2000.

They were trying to remove excess grout from tiles shortly before the centre was due to be opened to the public.

The two died of serious burns after the industrial chemicals they were using ignited.

The court heard that the men had been using unsuitable chemicals and had not been made aware of the dangers they faced.

An investigation revealed the blast had been caused by either a cigarette end or a mechanical scrubbing brush, which ignited the chemicals.

Lincoln-based Simons Construction Ltd, which was fined £40,000 and will pay £20,000 in costs, had denied two offences under health and safety regulations.

Mr Cliffe and Mr Amos had earlier admitted failing to protect the two workers from risks to their health and safety and were fined £5,000 and £2,500 respectively and ordered to pay £100 each in costs.

Project manager Graham Garside, 60, of Ingham, Lincolnshire, was found guilty of failing to protect the safety of the workers and was fined £750 and ordered to pay £200 in costs.