HSC consults on revised guidance to major accident hazards regulations

HSC press release C051:04 - 7 December 2004

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is seeking views on a draft updated guidance booklet covering the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH). The update is necessary because COMAH is being revised to implement a new EC directive, which amends the original Seveso II Directive.

The guidance has been revised to take into account the proposed changes to the regulations but the opportunity has also been taken to update other sections. The most significant amendment regards changes to the thresholds in Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 1 to COMAH. The thresholds are key to determining whether the regulations apply to a particular site.

The thresholds in Part 3, for substances that meet the criteria for ‘dangerous for the environment’, have been significantly reduced to acknowledge increased concerns over their potentially harmful effect on the environment. In addition, gas oils, including diesel and kerosene, have been added to petrol in the list of named dangerous substances in Part 2, but with lower thresholds than previously.

HSC is keen to receive views on the revised guidance from existing and new stakeholders who will be affected by the proposed amended regulations. These include operators of current COMAH establishments; sites where dangerous substances are present that would now become subject to COMAH; employers of workers – such as sub-contractors – who may work at sites covered by COMAH; Local Authority emergency planners and emergency services.

The full text of the draft revised guidance can be viewed or downloaded from the HSE’s website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Seveso II Directive aims to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences for workers, members of the public and the environment. It sets out measures that apply to sites that store or use specified dangerous substances, or specified generic classes of dangerous substances. The directive was implemented in Britain through COMAH.

2. The amending European Directive 2003/105/EC is aimed at broadening the scope of Seveso II, and takes account of recent industrial accidents and the results of studies on carcinogens and substances dangerous for the environment which have been carried out by the EC.

3. The guidance is provided to help operators and others understand their duties under the regulations and ensure their compliance.

4. HSC consultation on the amendments to the regulations ended on 1 October 2004, and the comments that were received through that exercise are currently being considered. The amended regulations are expected to come into force by summer 2005.

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