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21st February 2006
Buncefield Storage Terminal - HSE Progress Report and Alert
Commenting on the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Buncefield Investigation Progress Report and Safety Alert issued today, Chris Hunt, Director General of UKPIA, the trade association representing the main oil refining and marketing companies in the UK, said “ We welcome this progress report but concur with the view expressed in Taf Powell’s ‘Foreword’ to the report that speculation on the causes is undesirable until some of the main facts are established and the investigation team’s initial report is published ”.
He continued “ In the meantime, UKPIA and its members are working closely with the HSE’s inspection team that has been established to review operational and plant safety, management systems, staff training, good practice and emergency response systems at COMAH fuel storage sites. UKPIA will continue to promote the sharing of best practice and learning within the industry and regulatory organisations “.
Ends
Enquires to: Nick Vandervell: Tel. 0207 632 9880
Chris Hunt : Tel. 020 7240 0289
Notes to editors:
1. UKPIA represents the nine oil refining and marketing companies operating in the UK, which also own approximately 2,700 of the UK's 10,350 service stations.
2. UKPIA members own and operate the nine crude oil refineries in the UK.
3. The main process safety regulation of refineries and terminals in the UK is the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999. Refineries and larger oil storage terminals like Buncefield are categorised as top tier sites. These regulations require all such sites to have a major accident prevention plan and, in addition, top tier sites must produce a safety report to show that risks have been systematically reviewed and controlled, and necessary measures taken.
4. Buncefield was the fifth largest storage/distribution terminal in the UK and handled refined petroleum products that included petrol, diesel, jet fuel and heating fuel.
5. The Buncefield Major Incident Investigation, led by Taf Powell, was set up by the HSE to investigate the explosion and fire at Buncefield on 11th December 2005 and its work is being overseen by a six-person Major Incident Investigation Board appointed by the Health and Safety Commission.
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