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UK HSE prosecution following 2011 fatal explosion in oil refinery - DEV imca
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UK HSE prosecution following 2011 fatal explosion in oil refinery

What happened?

The UK HSE has prosecuted two companies after an explosion killed four workers and seriously injured another at an oil refinery in Pembrokeshire in 2011.  Five workers were emptying a tank using a vacuum tanker when the explosion and subsequent fire took place.  The explosion resulted in a fireball which severed the 5-tonne tank roof, and this was projected 55 metres to impact against a butane storage sphere.  The roof narrowly missed a pipe track where a range of flammable materials were carried.

Investigation found the explosion was most likely to have been initiated by the ignition of a highly flammable atmosphere within the tank, during what should have been a routine emptying operation [IMCA emphasis] in preparation for further cleaning and maintenance.  The investigation also found there had been longstanding failures within the refinery safety management systems (SMS) and as a result the risks posed by flammable atmospheres …were not understood or controlled. [IMCA emphasis]

Please see here for the full UK HSE press release.

Safety Event

Published: 30 September 2019
Download: IMCA SF 23/19

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding safetyreports@imca-int.com to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.