The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have this month published initial feedback from the safety alert they issued to operators of fuel storage depots in February. The report shows a generally good level of compliance with current standards at facilities similar to Buncefield, although the HSE have identified some deficiencies in bunding and general environmental awareness during site visits to more than 100 depots during the last four months. Most worrying were five instances where compliance levels were not to the required standard and direct action had to be taken by the COMAH Competent Authority to rectify matters. The most serious discovery was inadequate maintenance of fire-fighting equipment at an unnamed site.
The review also recognised aspects of current industry and HSE guidance that could be strengthened and following consultations and reviews, new guidance can be expected by Summer 2007.
An additional economic study into the series of explosions last December which destroyed the depot in Hemel Hempstead has revealed costs to firms totalling more than £70 million. The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) study found that 25 businesses were seriously affected by the blast, and as a result 16 were forced to relocate.
