The Buncefield
Investigation Board publishes its final report and announces the end
of its work
NEWS DISTRIBUTION
SERVICE News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11
December 2008
Issued on behalf
of the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board
Today, the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board is
publishing its final report and announcing the conclusion of its work.
This announcement is on the third anniversary of the incident,
which occurred at the Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead on
11 December 2005, dramatically affecting surrounding local
residents and businesses.
Lord Newton of Braintree, the Chair of the Buncefield Major
Incident Investigation Board, said: "This final report
captures all of our important work over nearly three years in a
single publication for the public record. It provides an
authoritative summary of the incident and of the Board's role
and work, and brings together for the first time our 78
recommendations into one place. This includes some new elements,
for example information on economic impact and the mechanism that
produced such a severe explosion at Buncefield. We trust it will
prove an invaluable reference document about this major and very
serious event."
In the three years of the Board's existence during this
complex project, it has:
* Met as a full Board on over 30 occasions, and on many other
occasions in working groups to concentrate on different parts of
their terms of reference.
* Produced eight reports and
responded to three Government consultation exercises of relevance
to Buncefield; and
* Provided advice to the HSE, Environment
Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on important
preventive measures arising out of the investigation and completed
a review of the policies and procedures for regulating the
Buncefield site.
Lord Newton concluded: "I have agreed with Judith Hackitt,
Chair of the HSE Board, the body that appointed us, and with the
Chair of the Environment Agency Lord Smith, that on publication of
our final report, we will have completed all of our terms of
reference. Therefore, as of today the Board will cease active business.
"A decision was announced on 1 December by the Health and
Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to commence criminal
proceedings against a number of companies. The Board was not
appointed to make a decision on proceedings or to exert influence
on it. Nonetheless this action by the enforcing authorities is an
important milestone for many people and it adds to the case for
the Board to conclude its work."
Notes to Editors
1. Lord Tony Newton (Chairman) and the Buncefield Independent
Investigation Board will be attending the Phoenix Gateway opening
event, to mark the third anniversary of the incident and announce
the close of their work to local residents and the business
community. The Board will also be publishing their final report,
which is available in hard copy or on the Buncefield Investigation
website http://www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk
2. The investigation was directed by the Health and Safety
Commission (HSC) using its powers under section 14(2)(a) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
3. The investigation was carried out jointly by the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency. The HSC
appointed an independent Investigation Board, chaired by Lord
Newton of Braintree, to supervise this investigation. This report
has been prepared by the Investigation Board, based on information
arising from the continuing HSE/Environment Agency investigation.
Throughout the investigation, the Board has been supplied with
Progress Reports from the Investigation Manager, Taf Powell, which
the Board has published.
4. The investigation had eight terms of reference. The eighth TOR
requires the final report, which is being published today, to be
made public.
5. This report is a summary of the material contained in the
previous reports. It also includes previously unpublished material
on economic impact and the violence of the Buncefield explosion.
Issued on behalf of the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation
Board by COI News and PR