The factory, situated in a densely populated area was producing picric acid for dying. Picric powder was used in blasting. Fortunately, due to Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebrations, there were few people in the factory or the vicinity at the time, although one worker was killed. Although there were no warning notices about the danger of explosive chemicals the court put the blame on a labourer for smoking a pipe and the company received only a rebuke for not being aware of the chemical properties of picric acid. There was no compensation paid to the family of the man killed in the disaster.

Title	Explosion at Roberts, Dale and Co. chemical works, 22 June 1887
Maker	--
Production Date	1887
Format	Photograph
Copyright	--
Holding Institution	TUC Library Collections, London Metropolitan University
Related Objects	--