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Sites that store and transfer petroleum products on a large scale should have extra precautions either to prevent fuel escaping in the first place, or if it does to stop it forming flammable vapour. This is the main conclusion of the fifth report of the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board into the incident in December 2005. The focus of this report is on making recommendations on the design and operations at storage sites.
“This report challenges the industry to substantially strengthen safety standards at sites handling large quantities of fuel,” said Lord Newton, chairman of the Buncefield Investigation Board. “It calls for a programme of revisions to guidance and standards for process safety, environmental protection and excellence in operations.”
The report also calls for a more consistent response to broadly similar major hazard risks than is currently the case. Specific recommendations are made for operators to rigorously assess levels of safety and reliability required in the design and operation of relevant sites. The Competent Authority needs to oversee this work and ensure it is done.
The design and operation of such sites is just one area the investigation is focussing on. Other areas are emergency preparedness and response to incidents, advice to planning authorities, and an examination of the HSE’s and the Environment Agency’s roles in regulating the activities on the Buncefield Site.
The report also calls for a more consistent response to similar major hazards. Specific recommendations are made for operators to rigorously assess levels of safety and reliability and the on the role of enforcement authorities to oversee this. It also notes similarities of many of the recommendations of the Baker Report, published in March, into the fire at BP’s Texas City refinery which killed 15 people in March 2005. That report makes similar recommendations on process safety, performance indicators, independent monitoring, industry leadership, engineering practices and safety knowledge.
The primary investigation into whether any criminal offences have been committed regarding the Buncefiled incident are continuing. Once these are complete, it is up to the Environment Agency and the HSE to decide if there is sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone.