Introduction of revised major accident hazards regs

Citation

(2005), "Introduction of revised major accident hazards regs", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 52 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2005.12852fab.004

Introduction of revised major accident hazards regs

Introduction of revised major accident hazards regs

Keyword: Hazards, Health and safety

Amendments to the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations 1999 came into force on 30 June 2005.

The COMAH (amendment) regulations 2005 broaden the scope of COMAH to take into account recent industrial accidents and the results of research on carcinogens and substances dangerous for the environment. They implement Directive 2003/105/EC that amends Directive 96/82/EC (known as the Seveso II Directive).

Seveso II aims to prevent major accidents, or limit the consequences for people and environment near establishments that hold or use specific substances.

The key revision to the regulations regard changes to the lists of named dangerous substances or generic categories of substances that are used to determine whether the regulations apply and to what extent. These changes involve:

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  a redefinition of ammonium nitrate to cover lower percentage composition, and new classes covering self- sustaining decomposition and reject material;

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  a new named category for potassium nitrate fertilisers;

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  the specification of seven new carcinogens, and raised threshold limits for all carcinogens;

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  a new category for petroleum products to include gas oils such as diesel, naphtha, and kerosene including jet fuels, with thresholds that are half those of the previous automotive petrol category;

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  the redefinition of the classes for explosives;

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  lower qualifying thresholds for substances dangerous for the environment; and

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  a change to the aggregation rule that is applied to all substances classified as toxic, dangerous for the environment, flammable or oxidising.

The amended regulations also broaden the application of COMAH at mines, quarries, boreholes and waste landfill sites, and clarify some requirements in the original regulations. Other amendments are largely administrative, including compliance timescales for establishments affected by the changes, and notification arrangements for petroleum products.

Dr Mike Tonge, Head of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Major Hazards Policy Group, said: “The changes to COMAH brought about by these amendments reflect the lessons learned from accidents in France, the Netherlands and Romania, and EC recommendations about the major accident potential of high and medium-potency carcinogens and substances dangerous for the environment.”

“The amendments ensure that COMAH continues to provide a high level of protection by placing appropriate controls on substances with the potential to cause significant damage to human health and the environment. HSE advises all operators of existing COMAH establishments and other businesses that use or handle dangerous chemicals to check whether they will be affected by the changes.”

The full text of the COMAH (amendment) regulations 2005 (SI 2005 No. 1088) is available on the HMSO website at: www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051088.htm. Additional information about chemicals and COMAH can be found on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm