Health and Safety Management | Buncefield fire

Health and Safety Management
Student’s Details

HSM
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Health and Safety Issues..................................................................................................................3
Health and Safety Issues: Buncefield..........................................................................................3
Failure of ATG and IHLS............................................................................................................3
Work pressure on the staff...........................................................................................................4
Absence of Training....................................................................................................................5
Environmental and health impact....................................................................................................5
Comparison of health, safety, and environment theory and practice..............................................8
Guidance of HSC.........................................................................................................................8
Health and safety regulation........................................................................................................9
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.......................................................................................9
Workplace Regulations 1992...................................................................................................9
The Offshore Installations Regulations 2005........................................................................10
The Offshore Installations Regulations 1995........................................................................10
Offshore Safety Act 1992......................................................................................................10
The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999..................................................10
Health and safety Act 2008....................................................................................................11
Compression of Buncefield Fire accident and ignorance of safety and regulation...................11
The Entropy Model................................................................................................................12
HAZOP..................................................................................................................................12
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................13
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................16

HSM
Introduction
The Buncefield fire was one of the largest fire explosions that had been occurred in an oil storage
facility at the Hertfordshire oil storage terminal which is located at Hertfordshire, England on 11
December 2005. The Hertfordshire oil terminal was the fifth largest oil depot in the UK with
millions of Imperial gallons of fuel the capacity. The terminal was owned by the ‘Total UK ltd.’
and ‘Texaco’. The Oil terminal depot had been opened in the year of 1968, around 25 miles
outside from the city of Hemel Hempstead in the northwest of London near to MI motorway
which is one of the biggest motorways in the city (BBC news, 2010).
The disaster took place in the early morning of 11 December 2005 due to unleaded motor fuel
was pumping into storage tank 912. The tank was situated in the North West site corner of the
terminal. The absence of the duty staff and failure of Safeguards modes which results in
overflow of the tank and outrage disaster. After the breakdown an explosion in tank 912 and
further explosions in other tanks followed and eventuality it resulted in the blasts of 20 tanks at
the site (COMAH, 2008). This series of explosions engulfed millions of galloon fuel that was
petrol, diesel and aviation fuel. After the World War II, the Buncefield fire accident was the
largest disaster that had effect on the whole of Europe. Several people were injured, numerous of
the surrounding premises were destroyed and many residential, commercial and religious
buildings were affected by the disaster. The blast was huge enough to be audible and visible to
miles away (HSE, 2020). The fire lasted for four days and affect to people's lives very badly.
To overcome this disaster gallon of water, hundreds of firefighters and many fire brigades
worked day and night for four days.
This study covers an analysis of unfortunate disasters of the Buncefield fire. With the context of
Buncefield fire, the study covers analysis and the importance of risk assessment, required risk

HSM
management and communication. With emphasizing the Buncefield fire accident the study also
discovers the common hazards, consequences and potential control measures of the oil and gas
industry. This discussion also covers health, safety and environmental legislation.
Recommendation for healthy and good management principles in the reference of the gas
industry also stated in the study.
Health and Safety Issues
Health and safety issues are important parameters in the oil and natural gas industry. OGUK
members are committed to ensuring the safety and security of people in the industry and
safeguarding the environment. OGUK organization is tirelessly working to avoid potential
accidents and misshaping in the industry. To foster and promote the working environment and
safety practices OGUK organization ensures training and learning programs, improves research
and fair communication and information sharing with the members in the industry. Because, oil
and gas industry comprises some hazardous factors they may lead to accidents and misshape
such as involvement of heavy equipment, high-pressure equipment, dangerous materials, and
high temperatures at the worksite. Thus the OGUK and HSE are continuously working to decline
illness and injuries in the industry (OGUK, 2019).
Health and Safety Issues: Buncefield
After the Buncefield accident, the Health and Safety Commission of the country appointed an
independent investigation board to identify the causes and accountable for the disaster.
Failure of ATG and IHLS
The immediate cause of this fatal disaster in HOSL was the failure of automatic tank gauge and
the independent high-level switch to operate as the fuel level in Tank 912 increased. This was a