Initial report into Buncefield incident published

A HSE Health and Safety Executive product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 14, 2006

On 13 July 2006, the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) published its Initial Report.

On 13 July 2006, the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) published its Initial Report.

This report summarises information from three previously published progress reports on the continuing investigation into the explosions and fires at the Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, on 11 December 2005.

More importantly, it draws broad conclusions about the need for action in three key areas.

The Health and Safety Commission and the Board of the Environment Agency have received this report and endorsed its publication.

Lord Newton, the Chairman of the Buncefield Investigation Board said: "Though knowledge of this major incident is still incomplete, the Board is in a position to identify three main issues arising from it.

These are the design and operation of fuel and oil storage depots; the emergency response to incidents; and advice to planning authorities on developments round such sites.

We believe these areas, together with our examination of the HSE's and the Environment Agency's roles in regulating the activities on the Buncefield site, will form the main scope of our further work." In relation to the design and operation of storage sites, the Buncefield incident involved failures to contain fuel at three levels.

The paramount need is to ensure the integrity of the primary means of containment, ie confining the fuel to the tanks, pipes and vessels designed to hold it.

This does not however lessen the need for effective secondary and tertiary containment (mainly bunds and drains) that prevent pollutants, especially fuel and the water used for fire fighting, from escaping the site and contaminating the environment.

Overall, the Board were very impressed with the emergency response to the incident, highlighting the importance of effective emergency arrangements.

There are a number of reviews into the effectiveness of the emergency response to Buncefield being carried out by the agencies concerned and this provides an important opportunity to learn lessons and bring about improvements in emergency preparedness of countrywide resilience groups.

The Buncefield incident has posed fundamental questions about residential and commercial developments around sites like Buncefield.

Continuing uncertainty in this area creates serious problems for local communities, particularly those directly affected by the Buncefield incident.

This is a complex issue requiring a balance to be made between the risks and benefits of development.

The Board intends to address these issues more fully once the preliminary conclusions of the HSE's current review of its advice to planning authorities are known.

Lord Newton, the Chairman of the Buncefield Major Investigation Board continued: "The Board will continue to ensure that information on the on-going investigation is made publicly available, either through its own reports or via the HSE and Environment Agency, where it is necessary to ensure continued safety.

At the same time we must preserve the integrity of any future criminal proceedings that might be brought by the relevant enforcing authorities." Taf Powell, the Investigation Manager said: "Work on the investigation continues to ensure that all reasonable lines of enquiry are followed.

Evidence continues to be gathered from different sources and the emerging information contributes to a greater understanding of the underlying root causes.

This allows the investigation team to refine its enquiries further and to bring into focus elements such as wider management systems and organisational factors.

He continued: "Almost all the plant and equipment required for forensic examination has been recovered from the Buncefield site, which will allow the operators to demolish buildings, tanks and bunds.

However, further investigation work will be carried out on the integrity of the floors of the bunds together with environmental monitoring of the ground underneath, in particular where tanks were located.".