Buncefield investigation - second progress report

A HSE Health and Safety Executive product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 12, 2006

The Board has published a further report on progress with the investigation into the explosions and fire at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot on 11 December 2005.

The Board has published a further report from Taf Powell, the Investigation Manager, on progress with the investigation into the explosions and fire at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot on 11 December 2005.

This complements the first progress report we published on 21 February and affirms the board's commitment to release relevant factual information from the investigation as it becomes available.

The second report focuses mainly on the environmental impact of the incident, in particular the impact of escaped fuel and firewater on land and on surface and ground water.

This will be of interest to the local community, not least because of concerns about the potential for contamination of drinking water.

Monitoring is continuing to see if contamination is occurring, which the report emphasises may not appear for months or years.

The report's conclusions in this area are necessarily provisional.

But whatever the monitoring reveals, there is no threat to public supplies as drinking water supplied to the public is treated and monitored to maintain its high quality.

The report makes clear that there were significant failures of the bunds that were intended to hold the liquids escaping from the damaged storage tanks and the firefighting waters.

The reasons for the failures are still being investigated and in due course work may be needed to review the resilience of bunds, including their design and construction.

Meanwhile storage site operators should take note of the bund failures at Buncefield.

They should consider the adequacy of existing bunds on their sites as part of their ongoing safety and environment reviews.

The report also emphasises the continuing impact of the incident on the local community and local businesses.

This the Board has witnessed at first hand in our meetings with local residents and business people.

Thankfully the incident caused no serious injuries, but this in no way lessens the difficulties caused for those whose lives and jobs have been so badly disrupted.

One of the main difficulties is uncertainty about the future.

This underlines our resolve to complete our task of investigating the incident and making recommendations to prevent recurrence in the shortest time possible, consistent with ensuring a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile the Board wishes to record its appreciation of the resilience shown by individuals and businesses in coping with the incident and its continuing aftermath.

The board has been impressed too with the energy and diligence shown by Dacorum Borough Council and many other agencies in providing advice and assistance to those affected by the incident.

Finally, the report looks ahead to the next and crucial stage of the investigation, establishing exactly how the fuel escaped and formed a flammable mixture that exploded.

After much difficult work in collecting and assessing evidence the investigation team is now close to being able to answer some of the key questions.

The Board will once again ensure that this information is shared with all interested persons as quickly as possible.