The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations ensuring that businesses:
"Take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances
Limit the consequences to people and the environment of any major accidents which do occur"
Background on the COMAH Regulations
The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH15) came into force on 1 June 2015.
COMAH15 regulations implement the majority of the Seveso III Directive (Council Directive 2012/18/EU and replace the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999.
Land-use planning requirements of the Directives are implemented by separate land-use planning legislation that is the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Scottish Executive, and the National Assembly for Wales.
COMAH applies mainly to the chemical industry, but also to some storage activities, explosives and nuclear sites, and other industries where the threshold quantities of dangerous substances identified in the Regulations are kept or used.
Cost recovery in detail
Information on cost recovery for COMAH in detail
The COMAH Competent Authority
The COMAH Competent Authority is responsible for COMAH regulations.
Regulating COMAH - the COMAH Competent Authority
COMAH 2015 is enforced by a Competent Authority (CA) that comprises HSE, or the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) for nuclear establishments, acting jointly with the appropriate environmental agency. In England this is the Environment Agency (EA), in Wales it is Natural Resources Wales (NRW); and in Scotland it is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The CA Strategic Management Group
All five CA partner organisations work together through the CA Strategic Management Group (CASMG).This group looks across the CA and industry as whole, setting direction and regulatory priorities.
CASMG has agreed a purpose statement defining its collective aims to deliver a modern safety regime that seeks to protect people and the environment from major accidents occurring at COMAH establishments.
The CA working with industry - COMAH Strategic Forum and CDOIF
CA partner organisations also work with industry trade associations and other stakeholders to improve major accident hazard management and raise standards across industry. The COMAH Strategic Forum (CSF) and the Chemical and Downstream Oil Industries Forum (CDOIF) are two such partnerships with high level representation from the COMAH CA, industry and others. More information on CSF and CDOIF, current working groups and the guidance they have developed is available at the CSF and CDOIF.
Operators: COMAH submissions
- Operators of COMAH establishments required to notify under the new 2015 Regulations
- Operators submitting public information
COMAH establishments in your area
You can now search online for public information about establishments in your area that are covered by the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015.