Health and Safety Issues at Buncefield Oil Terminal

This report discusses the health and safety issues faced at Buncefield Oil Terminal, including the impact on workers and the environment. It also compares health, safety, and environmental theories and actions. Find solutions for successful safety and risk management in the oil and gas industry.

Health Safety & Environment
in the Energy Industry and
The Downstream Oil & Gas

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
1. Issues of health and safety faced at Buncefield.......................................................................4
2. Comparison of health, safety and environmental theories and actions....................................6
3. Recommendations on the successful management of safety and risk management in
company.....................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Safety and security at the workplace is the most important things to make the business
effective and efficient. Every company make sure that their business operation will not harm
anyone so that they start various strategies of health and safety for protecting the people from
hazardous issues. This report determine the health and safety of the Buncefield Oil Terminal is
the biggest company which supplies oil and fuel in large quantity. This file includes the issues of
health and safety which is experienced at the Buncefield. Different theories and practices of
health, safety and environment are explained in this report. Successful management of safety and
risk in the Buncefield is the element of UK downstream gas and oil sector. Different problems
related to the safety and health of accident at Buncefield in 2005 are analysed and determined in
this report. There is also the evaluation of how the accident of company will influenced the oil
and gas sector of UK. The accident at the gas and oil industry is the biggest and powerful
explosion which is occurred in UK. Exacerbation of asthma, sore throat, cough, shortness of
breath are most common health problems which is happened due to accidents.
MAIN BODY
1. Issues of health and safety faced at Buncefield.
The blast of the Buncefield which occurs in the large fire that powerfully affects over the
storage tanks which is 20. this pollution will affects the health of the people in short and long
term. There are the two department of emergency and accident which is near to the place where
accident is occurred. The fire is burned for many days and cover the large section of England in
pollution. Explosion and fire is the main causes of health problem which is due to the blast. The
workers and the people in the industry faces the health problem which is due to flammable gases
and vapours. Flammable gases which is released from the blast of tanks in the industry and it is
in the form of vapours and hydrogen sulfide these gases will affects the health of people
adversely (Al Hashmi, 2017). Due to ineffective management system of health and safety in the
company will leads to the problem accident. Measurement of the performance is necessary which
is used to track the safety and security in the business operations. Oil and gas industry have to
use the effective procedure, conditions and environment which protects the workers of the
company from the
In the process of tank filling the management system does properly followed and it is
deficient. Before this fire incident the pressure is increases on the people working in the

company. The people of UK are suffered from various health diseases because the fire was did
not stopped for many days. At this period of time medical treatment is given to the 244 people in
the department accident and emergency (Baldwin and Black, 2016). All the people who are
admitted in the emergency department are divided into three parts such as workers, public and
services of emergency. The senior manager of the company gives advised to their worker that
they go and take check-up in the A&E departments due to adverse effects of smoke on health of
the people.
Symptoms of fire are identifies in the 120 people like 62% people are suffered from the
problem of respiratory system. 18% people are faced the problem of headache, 33% faced
injuries and 8% people are faced the issues of anxiety which affects their health. This incident is
happen because the tank was overfilled and large amount of gasoline is overflowed due to
accident and there is the formation of vapour cloud and this will result in the huge explosion
(Allford, 2016). The explosion of fuel makes the gases positioning in he environment so this will
affects the system of respirator in the public.
The most common problem of health is due to the irritation in the respiratory system like
exacerbation of asthma, sore throat, shortness of breath and cough. The company faces the
problem in the instruments of safety and it will increases the issues factors of human. This will
affects the environment of the country and greater number of people are faced the problem due to
the blast at Buncefield. The company further decides to implement new safety systems in the
business operations to measure and prevent the nature and health of people from this kind of
incidents in the future (Almond and Esbester, 2019). Effective and efficient management is
required in the company for the protection of the health, safety and environment while working
in the business atmosphere.
The incident of oil and gas industry will affects the mental health of the people also
because the gases which occur in the environment which is harmful for the health of people. The
employees who are working in this environment of workplace are faces the stress, exhaustion
affected the mental and physical health of people. These gases is highly affects the environment
and it will makes the
The main impact on the health are the problems headache, anxiety and symptoms of
respiratory. Most of the injuries are seen in the people who are working in the Buncefield
because they did not aware about the health of people working in the workplace. This will leads

to the high damages to environment and it affects the life of animals also. The company did not
uses the effective machinery and equipments in the workplaces which will leads to the major
accident because they do not make the safe and secure environment for the people.
The smoke contains the carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide etc. and these
gases will highly affects the environment (Atkinson, Cowpe and Painter, 2016). There is no
proper management of staff because at the time of accident none of the staff members are
available so there is no proper leadership in the business of oil and gas industry. Other
companies of the country also have to faces the problem in their business operation due to the
explosion of gases in the environment. In the organisation due to harmful gases the people will
experienced the problem of headache because people inhale these harmful gases and it will leads
to the various issues related to the health.
It can be evaluated people have to faces lots of health issues and they cannot breath
properly in the environment because the gases are very harmful which adversely affects the
humans. Some of the workers are suffering from the mental stress and depression which makes
ineffective and they are not focused in the worked which leads to the result of accident at
Buncefield. Without properly managing the employees at the workplace company could not
achieve the success and objectives. If the workers feels they are safe and secure at the workplace
which will improve their performance and they will perform all the activities as per terms and
conditions of the company (Baldwin and Black, 2016). So it is very essential to provide the safe
and secure working condition in the company because it will motivates them to work effectively.
Workplace must be consist of proper equipments of health and safety which secure the life of the
people working within the organisation. Safety of the employees is crucial point in the business
which makes the organisation effective and efficient in future. The people will mentally and
physically affected by the thick smoke which is released from the accident at Buncefield.
Because of the carbon dioxide the worker cannot breathe properly so that they faces the problem
of asthma in their body which is not only for the limited period so they suffers in the long run of
their life (Barua and Ansary, 2017). The success and growth of organisation is only depends on
the safe environment in which the people will freely works without any tension in their mind.
Which will makes them focused in their working and they will achieve the target of the
company.

2. Comparison of health, safety and environmental theories and actions
Buncefield is famous oil storage factory in UK where large number of workers offers
their services. It is also known as Hertfordshire oil storage terminal because it is executed by
Hertfordshire oil storage Ltd. It took place into hazards factory due to wide scale firing in 2005.
where large number of people got fire and remaining was injured. The environment of the
factory became smoke cloudy due to high fuel burning (Creutzfeldt and Hodges, 2016). Firing
leads ground water pollution, transport disruption and explosion of chemical which is utilized for
refining oil. There are various theory which can give guideline to keep workers health safe and
hazardous free environment. Buncefield applies environmental and safety theories.
Health and safety theory:
ABC theory: This theory helps in accidental case and organization applies the theory in
industry. It further classifies into three steps for example A,B,C.
A- ATTITUDES
behaviour of the workers plays significant role at workplace safety for example if a
employees who posses positive attitude during task performance as result improves task
achievement and if employees behaviour is negative during task performance and concern for
their healths as result doesn't get profitability and fearfulness. Thus, human attitude plays huge
role during task achievement. Generally it is not only give impact how employees perform task
but also how feel safe during performance (French and Steel, 2017). There is an example to
understand human behaviour such as positive peoples always try to give the best performance at
workplace, whether situation is in favoured and unfavoured. The main reason of the positive
attitude is that they maintain their well-being by getting positive outcomes of the behaviours. On
contrary, a person who always keep complaining about environment safety, work pressure,
safety practices etc. such kind peoples doesn't care about quality of the job which leads unsafe
work habits and hazardous. Buncefield enable to understand workers attitudes during task
performance.
B-BEHAVIOUR
Behaviour refers feelings or emotions i.e. happiness, depression and aggression of the
person at workplace. Behaviour of the workplace plays crucial role for the workers. For example
if workplace posses negative behaviour such as bullying workplace which leads phycological
risk, health risk (cardiovascular health and poor mental) etc. for the workers. On other hand if

workplace positive behaviour such as supportive job place which leads well-being and health
safety for the employees or workers (Gephart Jr, Helgesson and Ganzin, 2018). Buncefield
analyses behaviour of the workplace so that workers keeps positive attitude and gives high
productivity at the workplace. Even this theory helps organization to introduces different types of
skills for the workers where they learn and applies at job place so that workplace gives positive
behaviour for the workers and employer. Organization is oil depot factory which requires high
skilled worker at workplace so that they can fix up risk during finding. By the help of HSE
officers Buncefield offers skill development classes for the workers so that they learn and keeps
them safe during task performance. Skills are- Technical support skills in which learns worker to
produce optimum gods by removing risky errors. Another is human skills where makes confident
to worker so that they can work as leader under group (Gephart Jr, Miller and Helgesson, 2018).
On other hand, connection skills is organized for the manager of the Buncefield who can
observe each worker involvement in task performance.
C-CONDITION
Condition can define in various term such as reward and punishment consequences.
Condition also important for motivation. Buncefield keeps balance between punishment and
reward which leads loyalty of the worker at workplace. To maintain well-being at workplace
organization offers health and safety policies to workers. According to policy if worker get
injured during task performance at workplace, in that situation organization will pay all cost of
hospital on the behalf of the worker (Hedlund and et.al., 2019). Thus, it gives assurance to
workers and their families. Oil factory offers reward strategy which is act as motivation for
safety for the workers and leads behavioural change prolong time. Organization offers different
safety policies to worker which is utilized during project. The main goal of the policies to give
positive attitude along with safety for workers.
This theory is applies by the organization to keep worker safe and influences their
attitude in positive during performing task. Even number of workers who got injure offers health
and safety policies so that they give value of the industry.
Environmental theory
It is also utilized by the organization during incident. The main goal of the theory to keep
workplace safe so that employee can do work safely.

Domino theory: It is specially organized to keep environment safe of oil industry which is
pollutant after firing. It is based on the alignment of the events which is interlinked with incident.
Heinrich proposes this theory model in which explains that unsafe act is liable for human injuries
or accidents (Lee, and et al., 2016). That why it is also known as Heinrich domino theory model.
Through the theory enables to understand incident factors which comes during unsafe actions.
Social environment: the attitude of the workers during task performance is careless,
stubborn, unawareness etc. leads threat for the internal and external work environment as result
faults in peoples.
Responsibility in person: Responsibility refers temper, nerves etc. leads physical
hazardous of the workers.
Unsafe act or physical risk: Unsafe act occurs under construction when worker perform
carelessly as result direct injuries or health risk.
Incidents: People collapse or unconscious during task performance or bump with object
of machine. It is also lead injury for the worker on the job place.
Injury: it refers fractures, cuts, loses of limb etc. are lead direct incident.
Buncefield applies the environmental theory to elaborate condition of the workplace and
workers. Environment is pollutant due to fuel burning which leads smoke cloud, ground water
pollution and transport disruption. Buncefield applies the environmental theory to redeem
condition of the workplace. Organization improves HR practices and working condition so that
workers do work safely.
Health and safety practices
Buncefield fire is major fire of the UK where large number of people got injure. The main reason
of the circumstances careless nature of worker during offering services and unawareness of
safety practices. There are various health and safety practices which can apply during emergency
at workplace. Even industry manager can take health and safety practices to protect staff at
workplace. Practices are-
Health and safety programs: It is the best practices for the Buncefield fire because it
gives guideline for safety and health of the employees at workplace. The main goal of the
program to forbid job place from injuries, illness and deaths (Lindhout and Reniers, 2017). In
this program helps to apply various practices for recognizing hazardous and raise ways for fixing
hazardous so that they prepare men tall and keep safety from incidents. In the program learns

worker how to protect themselves from hazardous and gives new trick to keep them safe during
incident. It leads self dependency in individual workers and employers. Based on the program
guideline offers financial hardship for worker and their families. This health and safety program
can help organization for promoting health and safety at workplace by reducing hazardous. Even
such kind program gives assurance to worker about their safety issues. It develops worker
compliance along with laws and regulation. It improves engaging of workers at job place.
Buncefield applies this practice in the industry and implement at workplace, as result it reduces
compensation cost of the workers (Niemand, 2016). Guideline of the program improves
productivity and can influence organization operations. Through the practices, Buncefield
influences social duty of goals in the oil factory.
Health protecting agency: It is specially organized to prevent peoples from disease
which occurs during accident. Buncefield takes helps of the agency to practices H&S theory
where agency aware worker about health illness such as anxiety, respiratory infection and head
ache. To reduces illness, agency gives instruction to put cap on hand, cover face from mask and
wears gloves in hand etc. during task performance. Thus, organization utilizes practice to keep
workers safe.
Environmental practices
Organization applies environmental theory in practices so that industrial environment
gives positive aspect to the workers.
HR practices: Buncefield influences HR practices for the employees so that worker
motivates at workplace during performing task. HR offers training classes to worker where
trainer makes them learn how to operate machine and how to keep themself safe from hazardous.
Even manager conducts various health and safety program for the employees and permits them
to share their experience and skills. Before assigning task manager informs employees about
health risk so that they perform cautiously (Sharma and et.al., 2019). To promote self-esteem of
employees offers opportunity to employees to explore creativity by the manager. Rewards
strategy introduces by the manager for the employees so that they motivate prolong time. The
main goal of the HR practices maintains well-being and keep them concern free from health risk.
Improves working condition: To develop working condition organization introduces
high level technology such as weight lifting, oil refining etc. through the practices' organization
enables to safe environment from hazardous and safe workers' health as well.

3. Recommendations on the successful management of safety and risk management in company.
It can be recommended that the company follow the various principles which helps to
manage the safety and risk in the workplace that will do not affects the over all health and
environment of the country and their people. Effective training and development is organised in
the business which improves the working of the people. There is the responsibilities of the
manager to manage all the functions of the business which the people work properly and there is
no chances of misunderstanding so there is no accident in the future related to the explosion of
gases and oil which affects the health of people. Organisation will maintain the successful
management of the safety and risk in the company by proper knowledge and training to their
employees so that they learn how to work properly and get the work done without any kind of
accident.
Risk management involves the processes, principle for managing the risk in the business
effectively and efficiently. So it can be recommended that management of risk focusses to
reduces the chances of undesired events in the organisation. It will also eliminates the future
undesired events which spoil the business (Theophilus and et.al., 2018). This process firstly
focuses on the evaluation and identification different issues which affects the health of the
human and the company suffers loses due top the uneven problems.
Training is given when they uses any hazardous material in the business so that the
worker will not harm themselves and affects their life. Safety and risk management focuses to
identify the health hazardous which is exist in the workplace with the help of different
techniques. With the help of techniques in the business it could finds the issues related to the risk
and implement the effective measures to control the risk. The system safety and risk
management which focuses to keep the proper records of the first aid treatments, inspections,
investigations of incidents and training activities in the organisation.
Proper use and management of resources will makes for the safety of health and
environment is essential in the business activities specially in the industry of oil and gas. The
skills which used by the leader ion the Buncefield have to be effective that will motivates and
inspire the employees so that they will done their business practices in the most effective and
efficient ways. The task is allocated as per the skills and knowledge of the workers so that they
will perform their job in the most appropriate way. The manager have to make the effective plan
in the business so that the company will do not faces any major accident in the future. It is

analysed that the companies of gas and oil are also aware about accidents and they take major
steps to avoid these problems at the workplace. Safety and health management system includes
the plaining, organising, implementing, evaluation and different actions is taken to improve the
activities of different department of the industry (Walters and et.al 2016). The management will
decreases the cost of accidents and incidents occur in the business. The steps is taken for the
continuous improvement in the business.
Manager of the Buncefield uses the two ways in managing the risk of the business which
includes qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative method in the process of risk
management will evaluates the risk on the bases of experience and experts. On the other hand
quantitative method is used to evaluates the data in the risk of numerical data. Trained people in
the workplace will make sure that they try to minimize the effects of risk on the business. Risk
management minimizes the risk in advance and makes the company profitable. This will reduces
the confusion between the workers and managers of the company. The primary needs and
requirements of the company is only for the safety measures which is used to prevent the
escaping of fuel from the tank which is stored in the tanks of oil industry (Antonsen, 2017). This
measures of safety is required to safe from the flammable vapour and try to stop the environment
pollutants from poisoning gases.
To reduces the risk and manage the safety of the people health the company will provides
the insurance of life if they injured in the business then they get the specific amount on behalf of
the insurance. This will motivates the employees and they work effectively which does not create
any kind of risk in the organisation. The manager of the oil and gas industry have to make the
effective strategies which which make the company famous in the UK downstream of oil and gas
sector. Company will analyse the performance of the workers and if they are not in the right
direction given them correct path that they make sure does not create the chances of accidents in
the future (Pieper, Karvonen and Vaarama, 2019). All the work is properly allocated so that there
is no mismanagement in the workplace. Recruiting the people who are skilled and
knowledgeable which reduces the chances of the accidents and make the business essential
which helps them in the future growth and success.

CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that without proper managing the functions of
business the company have to faces various hazardous problems. Different health issues and
problem which is faced by the people when there is any kind of accident in the company of oil
and gas. The accidents in the oil and gas industry will negatively affects the health of the people
working in the organisation because these gases is the mixture of various harmful gases so that
the people could breathe properly. These gases becomes the positioning gases that will affects
the respiratory system of the people. Different theories and practices of health, safety and
environment are used to to maintain workplace safety. Theories like domino and ABC which is
used by the company to protect the worker from the risk which is occur within the organisation.
Proper management of safety and risk is to be needed in the business because this will gives
training to the employees so that they work. Organisation will provides the training about the
hazardous machinery and equipments which is used in the workplace they do not get injured
themselves by using them.

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