Stephen Galsworthy, Andrew Hutin, and Len Radford died

Sven Griffiths, an area technologist with Corus, said he could not recall details of meetings, including one an hour before the blast in Port Talbot.

But the families' lawyer said he did not accept Mr Griffiths' evidence.

Len Radford, 53, from Maesteg, and Stephen Galsworthy, 25, and Andrew Hutin, 20, both from Port Talbot, died.

On his second day of giving evidence to the inquest jury, Mr Griffiths said he could not remember details of important meetings in the run-up to the blast.

This included details of a meeting an hour before the furnace exploded, killing three workers and injuring 12.

Sven Griffiths said he could not remember details of meetings

The lawyer for the families, Lloyd Williams, said to Mr Griffiths: "I would like to know, the families would like to know and I am sure the jury would like to know, why it is when you attended every important meeting you can't recall a single thing that was discussed?"

Mr Griffiths replied: "I was involved in the accident." But he also agreed that he had not been injured.

Later Mr Williams asked: "Is this an example of Corus management sticking together to get out of difficulties?"

Mr Griffiths replied: "I am giving you my honest recollection."

Then Mr Williams said: "I wish to make it clear on behalf of the families that we do not accept this evidence."

A dozen other workers also suffered serious burns when molten metal and superheated gases showered down on them.

Twelve other workers were injured when the furnace exploded

Earlier in the week, the inquest heard that maintenance had been carried out on the furnace the day before the explosion.

On the day it happened, water was found to be flowing into the furnace and, at a meeting, it was a decided to discover the source of the leak.

It was later decided to close the furnace down until the problem had been solved.

The explosion happened about one hour, 15 minutes later.

The inquest continues.