The Health and Safety Executive is investigatingThe explosion was followed by a fierce fire(Image: @Purdy_Frog)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the design of a machine that was involved in an explosion at an industrial estate in Swindon as a possible link to a fatal explosion two years ago is probed.

The HSE contacted companies and businesses that use similar printing machinery to the one involved in the explosion at a printers on Groundwell Industrial Estate on Wednesday, September 24.

Nobody was injured in the explosion or resulting fire, which happened at around 7.30pm.

The HSE said a sublimation calender machine, manufactured by Diferro, was in use at the time of the incident.

The public body is investigating the design of the machine and probing a possible link with a fatal explosion in 2023.

In 2023, a similar explosion at the Treforest Industrial Estate at Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales, resulted in the death of a director of a neighbouring food laboratory business.

The HSE has directly contacted all known users to stress the need to consult guidance published last year and updated on Friday, October 10.

The regulator is also trying to identify any other users of machines believed to have been sold by two known distributors and is taking steps to prevent other Diferro machines coming into the UK by liaising with UK border officials.

New guidance issued includes not leaving the machine unattended when connected to the power supply.

Another revision says to cease operation of the machines until a second independent Safety-Related Control System has been installed by a competent person and validated to appropriate standards.

Luke Messenger, Head of Technical Product Safety at HSE said: “We have significant concerns about the safe use of these machines.

“The guidance issued following the Treforest Industrial Estate incident has clear instructions – revisions to this have been published today [Friday, October 10] and we will continue to share any further updates.

“We never want to see a repeat of the fatality in 2023 or the recent catastrophic explosion in Swindon.”