Chemical and Downstream Oil Industries Forum (CDOIF) - Meeting 22nd October 2003

03/10 Mins

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 22 October 2003 at HSE, Room 1105, Daniel House, Bootle

• HSE industry and topic advisory groups

Present:

Chair:	Kevin Allars	HSE, HID
Secretariat:	David Kyle	HSE, HID CI 4
Advisors:	Ron De Cort Alistair McNab John Garraway	HSE, HID CI 4 HSE, HID CI 1 EA
Members:	Hugh Bray Sean Bussey Duncan Foster John Galbraith Doug Leech Doug Russell Clive Sheil Jeff Watson Ron Wood	TSA GMBU ABPI CIA BCDTA USDAW UKPIA LPGA TGWU
Speakers:	Peter Baker Andrew Murray Ian Travers Anton Wilson	HSE, HID CD 2 HSE, HID CI 4 HSE, HID CI 2 HSE, HID CI 4
Observers:	Eddie Hanna	HSE, HID CI 4
Minutes Secretary:	Gill Chambers	HSE, HID CI 4

1. Welcome and introduction and opening remarks

1.1. Kevin Allars, the Head of the new Chemical Industries Division, introduced himself and explained how the Hazardous Installations Directorate within HSE had been reorganised by splitting the former Land Division into the Chemical Industries Division and the Specialised Industries Division. The objective of the creation of the Chemical Industries Division is to provide a better focus for the chemical sector and to encourage greater interaction to take place with stakeholders.

1.2. The Chair welcomed all to the meeting. He introduced Sean Bussey from GMBU who has replaced Nigel Bryson, John Galbraith from the CIA, Hugh Bray from the Tank Storage Association, John Garraway from the Environment Agency and Peter Baker, Alistair McNab, Andrew Murray, Ian Travers and Eddie Hanna from HSE.

1.3. Mark Scanlon reported by letter that the Institute of Petroleum and Institute of Energy have merged to form the Energy Institute whose purpose is the promotion of the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications. Mark will be invited to give more information to members at the next meeting.

Action: Secretariat

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Roger Alesbury (CIA), Kevin Dixon-Jackson (CIA), Martyn Lyons (TSA), Jim Mowatt (TGWU), Mark Scanlon (Energy Institute), Wayne Smith (BCF) and Roger Spiller (Amicus).

3. Minutes

3.1. There were no amendments to the minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2003.

3.2 Members issues

3.2 (11.1) Falls from Vehicles - a meeting was held with industry representatives looking at construction standards. Some useful comments were made on practical issues with the objective of producing guidelines with flexibility for different circumstances. It was noted that a meeting had also been held between the CIA and BCDTA to consider the alternatives to top sampling, thus avoiding the need for vehicle-top access. David Kyle offered to provide an input to these discussions if requested to do so.

5 - Loss of Containment - this report by the Health and Safety Laboratory is now on the internet (www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2003/hsl03-07.pdf).

7.1 - Short Term Exposure to Carcinogens - there is still time for members to contribute if they wish.

4. Safety Report Review and Revision and the COMAH Review

4.1. A programme for developing improved procedures and guidance for the review and revision of COMAH safety reports was outlined to members. It is hoped to seek industry's views on the programme between December and February 2004 with a view to interim guidance published in Spring/Summer 2004.

4.2. COMAH Regulations Review - It is anticipated that formal external consultation on the proposed amendments to the COMAH Regulations will take place from June to August 2004. Concern was expressed that the consultation period is too short and will include the summer holiday period. This timing is unavoidable as there is only a limited time to comply with the Directive. Kevin Allars agreed to pass these concerns to the Chair of ACDS to bring to the attention of HSC.

Action: Members/Chair

4.3. Evaluation of COMAH - research has been undertaken on the benefits and costs of operating permissioning regimes. The Secretariat will forward details of this to members.

Action: Secretariat

4.4. Application of COMAH across the EU - members expressed concern that there is uneven application of COMAH across the EU. They were advised that if they have sound evidence of situations where the regulations are not being applied appropriately, then they should provide that to HSE, and HSE will present this to Europe for action.

Action: Members/Secretariat

5. BP Grangemouth Report

5.1. The Major Incident Investigation Report has been published on the Internet on behalf of the Competent Authority - the report looked at how and why the incidents occurred and lessons learned. Members commented that they found publication of the report on the internet very useful, with it being readily available to all. Members also found the navigation of the report to be straightforward, with easy access to the parts required.

6. HSE Chemical Sector

6.1. Members were informed of the proposals for the 2004/2005 programme of work for the Chemical Sector and were asked to make any comments by the end of November if possible. If issues are identified they would be dealt with across the industry in partnership with stakeholders.

6.2. Doug Russell requested further information about guidance on Human Factors. The Secretariat agreed to check availability and provide this information. The final programme of work will be provided to CDOIF at the next meeting.

Action: Secretariat

7. PSA Targets

7.1. HSE is required to set outcome targets of a 6% reduction of Dangerous Occurrences by 2006. The targets for the Chemical Sector are based on a suite of seven Dangerous Occurrences from a baseline in 2001/2002. There was a discussion on whether the target for the Chemical Sector is sufficiently challenging.

8. Performance measures

8.1. Members were given a presentation on Process Safety Performance Measures. The objective of using these measures is to embed process safety performance indicators into safety management systems and to improve intelligence in the underlying causes of loss of containment incidents in order to direct programmes to reduce their frequency.

8.2. There was a discussion on the likely precursors to major incidents.

8.3. It is hoped to involve different trade associations in sharing good practice and possibly local groups who are not members of an association in order to include the whole sector.

9. Worker Involvement

9.1. This presentation illustrated the role of safety representatives within an organisation, their legal basis and training available to them.

9.2. Kevin Allars thanked Ron Wood for the clear review of the impact of employee involvement. In the discussion following the presentation, members shared their experience of how safety representatives, both union and non-union, work in partnership with the management with the same overall objective to avoid injury and ill-health.

10. Contributions to guidance

10.1. OIAC - Safe Isolation of Plant and Equipment

10.1.1. Members of CDOIF have been involved in the revision of the 1977 OIAC guidance for use in the onshore oil industry. It is anticipated that a draft of the revised guidance will be issued to members of CDOIF by December 2003.

Action: Secretariat

10.2. Permit to Work Guidance

10.2.1. Comments on this draft guidance would be required by mid November 2003. Copies of the draft are available if required by members. It was noted that UKPIA has already been involved in the consultation process.

Action: Members

11. Secondary containment

11.1. The Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency are co-ordinating work being undertaken on secondary containment with a view to producing advice if appropriate.

11.2. Members were requested to let the secretariat have any relevant information on this topic

Action: Members.

11.3. This issue will be reported back to CDOIF in due course.

Action: Secretariat

12. Revitalising health and safety

12.1. Many members of CDOIF had previously completed questionnaires on how their part of the industry was addressing HSC's 'Revitalising Health and Safety' initiative and they were requested to update members of the forum on what impact these measures had on health and safety.

12.2. Tank Storage Association -

12.2.1. Slips, trips and falls and manual handling incidents have decreased significantly. The RIDDOR reportable accident rate has also had a dramatic improvement. Much of this improvement is seen to be as a result of members sharing experiences and lessons learned. However, all these issues continue to be addressed.

12.2.2. 'Themed' meetings have been held to address specific concerns and an annual conference and exhibition at which HSE also gave a presentation on Human Factors.

12.3. Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries

12.3.1. Special Interests workshops have been held - examples are Driver Safety, Behavioural Safety and Human Factors and Manual Handling. A workshop is planned on Stress.

12.3.2. A Video has been produced for Representatives on Safe Driving and Manual Handling. There has been good take up on this. It has also been translated and used overseas.

12.3.3. Data is gathered on performance. The number of RIDDOR incidents has reduced, but the data on this is to be rechecked.

12.3.4. The annual conference was well attended.

12.3.5. A new committee member has been appointed who is an SME representative.

12.4. UKPIA

12.4.1. The three sectors within UKPIA's remit are refining, distribution and marketing. Each of these sectors has different health and safety issues. UKPIA collates statistics relating to health and safety, and members also contribute to pan-EU safety statistics collated by CONCAWE to assist benchmarking.

12.4.2. The current focus is: dangerous occurrences and major accident precursors in the refineries; 'at work' road accidents in the distribution sector and forecourt violence/crime; and contractor safety in the retail sector.

There are currently initiatives being undertaken targeted at these topics.

12.5. David Kyle concluded by thanking members for their contribution and explained that he would be producing a report at the end of 2004 for presentation to HSC, so would be seeking updated contributions from members.

Action: Secretariat/Members

13. Incidents and events

Members were advised on recent significant incidents currently undergoing investigation, and cases recently heard by the courts.

14. Information items

14.1. The OECD Booklet on the Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response which had previously been sent to members was noted.

14.2. 'Driving at Work - Managing work-related road safety' published by HSE (ref INDG382 09/03 C2000). This should be publicised widely.

14.3. European Week for Health and Safety - it was hoped that members found the website useful. .

14.4. Draft Health and Safety (Employee Consultation and Safety Representatives) Regulations - there are a number of issues that require further discussion and resolution. HSC hopes to return to the draft consultative document early next year once these issues have been resolved. HSC is keen for HSE to take forward the non-regulatory measures set out in the paper, particularly the development of the Worker Safety Adviser Initiative.

14.5. HSC - Consultative Document - 'A Strategy for Workplace Health & Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond'. Members were given the website and were encouraged to read the document, and to respond to the consultation by 1 December 2003. (www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/strategycd.pdf)

15. Dates of next meetings

Wednesday 18 February 2004 (London)

Wednesday 23 June 2004 (Bootle)

Wednesday 20 October 2004 (London)