Buncefield response

Reports and recommendations arising from the Competent Authority's response to the Buncefield incident

The incident

In the early hours of Sunday 11th December 2005, a number of explosions occurred at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. At least one of the initial explosions was of massive proportions and there was a large fire, which engulfed a high proportion of the site. Over 40 people were injured; fortunately there were no fatalities. Significant damage occurred to both commercial and residential properties in the vicinity and a large area around the site was evacuated on emergency service advice. The fire burned for several days, destroying most of the site and emitting large clouds of black smoke into the atmosphere.

The prosecution

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency (EA) have secured convictions against five companies. They will be sentenced on Friday 16 July at St Albans Crown Court.

• Prosecution resulting from Buncefield explosion

Reports and recommendations

• Press notice - 11 December 2009: Process safety leadership group publishes final report on site safety at fuel storage sites
• The Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG) Final Report - Safety and environmental standards for fuel storage sites
  The Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG) was designed to meet the need for an effective framework for interaction between industry, trade unions and the Competent Authority (CA); a framework in which they could carry out a dialogue to jointly develop, progress and implement meaningful, effective recommendations and practices that improve safety in our industries. This PSLG final report builds on the improvements developed by the Buncefield Standards Task Group, providing full and comprehensive guidance in addressing all 25 recommendations of the MIIB’s report on the design and operation of fuel storage sites.
• PSLG principles of process safety leadership
• Chemical Business Association: Safety Leadership principles
• Initial PSLG guidance on implementing the Buncefield MIIB Emergency arrangements report
• Report on progress against the Buncefield Standards Task Group initial recommendations
• Buncefield Standards Task Group (BSTG) final report
• Buncefield Standards Task Group: Initial report - recommendations requiring immediate action
• Initial report on the findings of the oil/fuel depot safety alert review