Safety Flash
UK HSE prosecution following 2011 fatal explosion in oil refinery
UK HSE prosecution following 2011 fatal explosion in oil refinery
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 23/19
- ExplosionProcess SafetyRegulation and Legislation
- ExplosionFireProcess safetyRegulation and legislation
- Fluid transfer
- Storage tanks
- Downstream and process industries
Summary
This safety flash reports HSE prosecution following a fatal refinery explosion in Pembrokeshire during tank emptying with a vacuum tanker. Four workers died and another was seriously injured. Investigators considered ignition of a highly flammable tank atmosphere the most likely initiator and identified longstanding safety-management failures.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Fluid transfer; fluid loading; fluid offloading.
Classifications: Storage tanks; atmospheric tanks.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Summary
An oil refinery explosion during tank emptying exposed longstanding failures to understand and control flammable-atmosphere risks.
IMCA SF 23/19. Themes: explosion, process safety, regulation and legislation.