E067:06 13 June 2006

HSE publishes initial feedback from Buncefield safety alert

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today published the initial feedback from the safety alert it issued to operators of fuel storage depots in February 2006. The full report is available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/comah/alert.htm

The initial findings from HSE’s safety alert show a generally good level of compliance with current standards at facilities similar to Buncefield, although the Environment Agency has started to identify some deficiencies in bunding and environmental awareness through its separate inspection activity.

There were, however, five instances where compliance levels were not to the appropriate standard, and where direct action has been taken by industry and the COMAH Competent Authority (CA) to address this. The review also recognised aspects of current industry and HSE guidance that could be strengthened. As a result, HSE is reviewing the guidance with representatives across industry, with a view to providing further clarity as soon as possible, and revised published guidance by mid-2007.

HSE will consider the Safety Alert findings and the contents of the Buncefield Investigation’s initial report, expected in July, and will use the information it learns from both to determine what future measures need to be taken to improve safety even further. This is being done in consultation with a Task Group that has been established with relevant industry representatives at HSE’s request.

The Task Group is made up of key industry trade association representatives as well as the CA, who will provide appropriate regulatory oversight and direction. HSE will manage this important programme with an aim to ensure further enhanced safety standards are implemented to further improve major accident prevention as soon as possible.

As a separate strand of the work, the Buncefield incident will also have implications for the advice HSE provides to planning authorities. HSE should be in a position to issue revised Land Use Planning policy later this year.

Notes to Editors

1. The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999 are enforced by a joint Competent Authority: HSE and Environment Agency in England and Wales, and HSE and Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland.

2. UK Petroleum Industries Association (UKPIA) represents the oil refining and marketing companies operating in the UK, which also own approximately 2,500 of the UK's 9,764 service stations, and own and operate the nine crude processing oil refineries in the UK.

3. The Task Group includes representation from members of: UKPIA; Tank Storage Association (TSA); Chemical Industries Association (CIA); HSE; EA; SEPA and Cogent Sector Skills Council. Ken Rivers, Shell UK Oil Manufacturing Director and former President of UKPIA, will chair the group.

4. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued precautionary advice in February to operators of fuel storage sites following the publication of the first progress report by Taf Powell to the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board on the joint investigation by HSE and the Environment Agency. HSE requested that operators with consent to store quantities of oil or other fuels that make them subject to the COMAH Regulations 1999, review their operations in the light of information obtained from the investigation at that point and report the outcomes of those reviews to HSE by Easter 2006. HSE inspectors also carried out inspections at these sites. Full details of the safety alert can be found on the HSE’s website at: www.hse.gov.uk/press/2006/e06019.htm

5. HSE will work with EA/SEPA, industry, trade unions, government departments, local authority planners and others will bring the best available experience to the matter. In addition, contact is being maintained with the Buncefield Incident Investigation Manager, Taf Powell, to ensure that the latest findings from the investigation are considered as part of this work.

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