Industry to apply ‘Buncefield’ measures

London — Industry must introduce “immediate measures” to improve safety and environmental standards at major petroleum storage facilities, the Buncefield Joint Industry and COMAH Competent Authority (CA) Task Group said 12 Oct.

The Task Group has drawn up an eight-point action plan, which is based on the findings of the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board’s initial report into last December’s explosion at the Buncefield fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead.

The actions* relate to: Pipeline transfers; Tank overfill prevention – operating safety margins and level alarms; Fire safe shut-off valves and remotely operated shut off valves; Containment – bunds and other measures; and shift handover.

The measures include requirements that by Jan 2007 operators confirm, via a standardized agreement, that they can receive fuel before transfer starts and can initiate emergency shutdown if necessary.

Site operators also have a Jan 2007 deadline to provide effective safety margins to prevent a release of fuel — in compliance with American Petroleum Institute recommended practice. Further safety measures covering shut-off valves, bunds and other containment and safety systems are to be introduced during the first half of the year.

Admitting that the measures represent a major challenge to industry, the Task group stated: “Regulators and industry are working to identify and develop new solutions to set a clearer and higher benchmark standard specific to large-scale petroleum storage.”

Welcoming the Task Group’s call, the Chemical Industries Association said its members had actively supported the Task Group since its formation in June 2006. The Buncefield incident, it noted, has lessons for operators in a wide range of industries.

“Although the actions announced today refer to sites that specifically store or handle petroleum, the CIA recognises that there will be lessons learnt here which could be transferable to other major hazard sites in allied industrial sectors,” said Steve Elliott, CIA chief executive.

The COMAH group is also awaiting the results of safety reviews of around 100 fuel depots carried out in the wake of the Buncefield incident to see if further safety measures are needed. The reviews — by the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency — are due to be finalised later this year.

The Task Group said it would make final recommendations to industry aimed at enhancing safety and environmental standards by July 2007.