HSE Statement

Taken from HSE website 30 August 2011

Explosion and Fire: Chevron Pembroke Refinery, 2 June 2011
Reminder of the Risks and Precautions Associated with Tank Cleaning Operations

by Ron De Cort. Head of Operations, Wales and West of England, Hazardous Installations Directorate, HSE

Following the incident at the Chevron Pembroke Refinery on 2nd June HSE, on behalf of the COMAH Competent Authority, would like to remind site operators of the dangers associated with this type of operation and of the guidance available to ensure the work is undertaken safety.

Tank cleaning operations were in progress within the amine recovery unit at the refinery site when there was an explosion and subsequent fire. The incident led to the death of four people and serious injuries were sustained by another person. The joint police and COMAH Competent Authority investigation team is working to establish the cause of the incident.

The risks associated with tank cleaning are widely recognised in the major hazard industries and there are well established control measures. These are outlined in:

Safe maintenance, repair and cleaning procedures, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, L137, HSE.
Guidance on permit-to-work systems: A guide for the petroleum, chemical and allied industries, HS(G)250, HSE, and
Code of Safe Practice Part 16 - Tank Cleaning Safety Code.Energy Institute, 20085

Site operators should review their arrangements for cleaning tanks that contain hazardous substances and ensure that they meet current good practice.
Notes

The refinery is a top tier establishment under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (as amended). The Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are jointly responsible (as the Competent Authority) for regulating major hazardous industrial sites in the UK under the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999 (COMAH).

COMAH requires operators of major hazard sites subject to the Regulations to take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences to persons and the environment. Operators of top tier COMAH sites are also required to submit written safety reports to the Competent Authority; and to prepare emergency plans to deal with the consequences of a major accident. Operators and others (including contractors, designers and suppliers) also have relevant duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and under other environmental legislation to protect land, air and water, including the Water Resources Act 1991.

The incident occurred on Thursday 2 June and is under investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police and HSE. The Police currently have primacy in accordance with the Work Related Deaths Protocol.

Pembroke Chevron oil refinery blast victim's son speaks

BBC Website 5 August 2011

The son of one of four people killed in the Chevron refinery explosion in Pembrokeshire has told how he could also have been a victim of the blast.

He said his father was working overtime on the evening he was killed.

"They wanted the tank cleaned by the next morning. It was just routine, a routine clearance of the tank.

The family texted and rang Mr Riley as soon as the alert was declared but there no answer.

In the early hours of the following morning, Chevron rang to say Dennis Riley was among those missing, he said.

Mr Riley said he would remember his father as a devoted family man, who called round after work every evening to sit with his grandchildren.

Refinery blast investigation a long process

Tenby Observer 24 June 2011


Dyfed Powys Police together with the Health and Safety Executive continue their joint investigation into the incident at Chevron Refinery, Pembroke, on June 2., to establish the cause of the fatal explosion and fire.
Extensive examinations have been undertaken at the scene of the incident by forensic and technical experts with a view of establishing the chain of events that culminated in the explosion and fire where four people tragically lost their lives. The investigation is expected to take a number of months.

The investigation will be a thorough and meticulous process and the investigation team remain on site gathering evidence, interviewing and speaking to people who may be able to help the investigation.
Where there are lessons to be learnt by the industry relating to safety issues they will be shared at the appropriate time .

Specially trained officers from Dyfed Powys Police continue to support the families of the deceased and injured.

Detective Superintendent Simon Powell, who is leading the joint investigation team, said: “As our joint Police and HSE investigation continues into the explosion at Chevron on June 2, we are committed to finding out exactly what caused the explosion and why it happened.

“As part of the investigation we are using many forensic and technical experts to build a picture of what occurred and we are in the process of speaking to many witnesses.

“The families have asked that the media respect their privacy over the coming weeks and particularly during the funerals of their loved ones. They are grateful for the support they have received from the community and further afield, but now they wish to hold their funerals out of the glare of the media.”

Organisation urges safety following Chevron incident

Tank Storage magazine 17 June 2011


Hazardous Installations Directorate’s head of operations, Ron De Cort, has now released a reminder to all companies working in the field about the dangers of tank cleaning.

The memo urges workers to reacquaint themselves with the risks associated with tank cleaning and the established control measures. To do so, it recommends reading:

·         Safe maintenance, repair and cleaning procedures, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, L137, HSE.

·         Guidance on permit-to-work systems: A guide for the petroleum, chemical and allied industries, HS(G)250, HSE, and

·         Code of Safe Practice Part 16 - Tank Cleaning Safety Code.Energy Institute, 2008

It also urges tank operators to make sure they review their arrangements for cleaning tanks that contain hazardous substances and make sure their practices are up-to-date.

Four Chevron workers identified by DNA - inquest

Wales Online 14 June 2011

INQUESTS into the deaths of four people killed in an explosion at the Chevron oil refinery in Pembrokeshire have been opened and adjourned.


Yesterday at Milford Haven Town Hall Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton was told the four who died were identified using DNA samples.

The full hearing is not expected to be held for some time and until a full inquiry into the accident has been completed.

 Dyfed-Powys Police coroner’s officer Jeremy Davies read out the names of the deceased and said that each was “formally identified by way of DNA”.

“As a result of that evidence I am now in a position where I can formally open the inquests of the four persons whose details have been provided to me,” he said.

“Those inquests are now formally opened but are to be adjourned until a date in due course pending further inquiries and investigations being carried out.”

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/06/14/four-chevron-workers-identified-by-dna-inquest-91466-28871983/#ixzz1PGdLqqbR

One week on

It has been a week now since the tragedy at the Pembroke refinery.

So far we know who died, how long it took to extinguish the fire and the size of the tank where the event started. However, whilst we know an investigation is ongoing I am a bit surprised that we do not know what material was stored in the tank, and the others in the vicinity including the road tanker.

Another thing that surprises and shocks me a little is that statements from Chevron are so well hidden on their website. Going to 'News' section and selecting either 'Press releases' or 'In the news' comes up with nothing. It is only if you 'Media resources' that you then get a link to 'updates' and then you get to Statements about the accident.  In face, I have looked several times and only just found this.

For the record the statements were as follows:

2 June 2011: Confirming four people have been killed on site
3 June 2011: Chevron is saddened. Plant remains fully operational
6 June 2011: Four minutes silence and book of condolences. More information about the incident and emergency response.

Inquest on Chevron blast victims

News Wales 10 June 2011

An inquest into the deaths of four people in an explosion at the Chevron Oil plant in Pembroke on June 2 will be opened at 10am on Monday 13th June 2011 at the Town Hall in Milford Haven.

Those who died were

JULIE JONES, aged 54, a mother of one and a grandmother of one, from Pembroke.

DENNIS RILEY, aged 52, a father of two and a grandfather, from Milford Haven

ROBERT BROOME, aged 48, a father of seven from Milford Haven

ANDREW JENKINS, aged 33, a father of young twins from Milford Haven

A man injured in the blast remains stable at Morriston Hospital.
The investigation to establish the cause of the explosion continues to progress.
DCI Martin Davies said, “We are working together with the Health and Safety Executive and forensic experts at the scene to establish the cause of this tragic incident.”
Family Liaison Officers continue to support the families of the deceased.