WORKERS yesterday gave a harrowing account of a factory blast which killed nine people and injured 33 others and spoke of their fear of impending danger in the week before the building collapsed.

The first day of a public inquiry into the ICL Plastics disaster heard that staff told of strange smells, damaged piping and faulty equipment, while managers experienced a mystery building movement, the cause of which was never discovered.

The inquiry held in Glasgow heard how the Stockline factory in Maryhill "shook dramatically" four days before the explosion reduced it to rubble, leading to a massive rescue and recovery operation.

Management at the plastics factory inspected the premises for damage after they felt it move twice in two days less than a week before the disaster.

Employees yesterday recalled their experiences on the day of the blast, which happened on May 11, 2004.

Some spoke of hearing a noise like a plane crash, giant firework and a bomb going off as the Victorian building collapsed at midday.

Ian Mavers, a quality inspector with the company, spoke of his fears before the disaster.

He said: "I had concerns about subsidence which I expressed to the Health and Safety Executive. I didn't think the ground was strong enough. On the Thursday before the disaster, the building shook. That was after a thunder and lightning storm.

"It was about 10.45am - the whole building shook dramatically."

Mr Mavers said he walked round the site with director Stewart McColl, who was one of nine people killed in the subsequent disaster, to look for signs of damage.

He added: "We were both wondering what was happening. We noticed two skylight windows were broken. On Friday the same thing happened again - the whole building shook.

"Then we were told that someone in the houses opposite reported seeing flashes of light from under the building early in the morning."

Mr Mavers's evidence, along with that of other witnesses, was read out by junior counsel to the inquiry, Kenneth McBrearty.

Mr Mavers added: "There was a sickly putrid smell just before the tragedy. I never found out what it was. It was a rotten egg type smell. A few of the boys could smell it."

In his evidence, Gordon Bell, a spray painter who had worked for the company since 1977, said that he had complained about a valve being faulty on the LPG oven he worked on. He said: "It was agreed to replace the valve and quotes were received.

"More than one year before the incident I was having trouble with a soleroid panel. The oven was set to 400 degrees Celsius but sometimes it went as high as 480. In January, 2004, the company had quotes to change the pipework."

Foreman painter Jimmy McGoldrick said he reported corroded pipework which had changed colour above his electric oven.

The men all recalled the day the building collapsed and spoke of being thrown in the air and how they escaped. They also spoke of seeing colleagues lying injured among the rubble.

Mr Mavers said: "I heard a rumble, I didn't hear a blast. The rumble turned into earthquake proportions."

Vacuum foreman David Andrews said: "I heard an almighty crashing noise and the building shook. I couldn't see anything for dust. I thought maybe a plane had hit the building.

"I saw most of the boys covered in dust. A couple of days before I noticed a damp smell in the basement, I had smelled it before."

Mr McGoldrick said he helped his colleague Danny Gilmour through a gap to get out of the building.

He said: "I heard a bang and the lights went out. I realised we were trapped and Danny and I had to feel for each other.

"Dust was everywhere in my eyes nose and throat. I grabbed Danny by the scruff of the neck and moved to a space.

"Danny said to me, I don't think I can get through that'. I told him Want to bet'."

The inquiry, before Lord Gill, continues.