Buncefield put back in the spotlight
The Buncefield oil depot fire of December 2005 was always going to be a key theme looming over the UK Tank Storage Association’s (TSA) event. In fact, the hosting of the conference was even delayed until an additional report on the incident was published at the end of July. The findings were presented to the bulk liquid storage industry at a time when the issue of health and safety has never been more animate.
To start the day, TSA’s chairman Martyn Lyons reminisced on the last 12 months, praising the good feedback from the industry and its fluent communication on issues surrounding health and safety. He also highlighted recent factors affecting the industry including the change in European legislation, the move of chemical manufacturers to the east and the emergence of the biofuels market to fill the gap.
The Buncefield Standard Task Group (BSTG) and the Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) have now published several reports.
The presentations, correspondingly, centred on the BSTG’s findings. This year’s keynote speaker was the UK Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Kevin Allers, or Chemical Kevin, as he is better known in the industry. Allers addressed the need to better engage with the industry and improve the efficiency of staff within it. He identified three key aims: to preclude any major accidents or hazards, work with people on issues concerning health, and encourage a greater advisory capacity for local authorities involved with site and planning issues.
He spoke on the necessity of skilled staff working for a sustainable future. This sustainability has been questioned lately, and the industry pressured by misconceptions which damage the trust and credibility in the sector.
