The Seveso website has been revised to reflect forthcoming changes as a result of the Seveso III Directive, to be implemented from 1 June 2015. Includes a summary of changes from Seveso II to III and details the implications for businesses, employers and sites currently out of scope.
Category: COMAH
April 2013 – The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 2013 came into force
The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations 2013 came into force on 6 April (subject to Parliamentary approval). These Regulations remove thirteen measures that have either been overtaken by more up to date Regulations, are redundant or do not deliver the intended benefits.
Towards implementation of Seveso III as revised COMAH regulations Seminar – London 19 March 2013
The new Seveso III directive has been agreed and work is beginning towards its implementation. The seminar will highlight the main issues in a series of presentations and will provide opportunity for informal feedback. Early bird registration before 31st January 2013.
Solvent company prosecuted for decanting failures
A Doncaster solvent company has been fined after an unsafe decanting operation caused a huge fire that engulfed its Harworth base.
RR937 – Flammable vapour cloud risks from tank overfilling incidents
This report documents research undertaken in 2007 and 2008 to examine the important factors affecting the production of flammable vapour in incidents where large storage tanks of volatile liquids are overfilled.
RR936 – Buncefield investigation: Liquid flow and vapour production
Blast and fire damage at Buncefield followed ignition of an extensive low-lying cloud rich in hydrocarbons. This cloud developed during overfilling of a tank with unleaded petrol. The purpose of this report is to explain the connection between the loss of containment and the generation of a combustible cloud.
Surface engineering – what is it?
Surface engineering refers to a wide range of technologies designed to modify the surface properties of components for decorative and/or functional purposes.
CD239: Public consultation – Removal of fourteen legislative measures
This consultation seeks views on the HSE’s proposals to remove fourteen legislative measures (one Act, twelve Regulations and one Order and with a related provision in the Factories Act 1961) and to withdraw approval for an associated Approved Code of Practice. Still time to have your say, consultation ends 4 July 2012.
CD239 – Proposals to remove fourteen legislative measures
This consultation seeks views on HSE’s proposals to remove fourteen legislative measures covering Celluloid and Cinematograph Film, Construction Head Protection, Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes, Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances, Gasholders (Record of Examinations) Order, Docks, Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing and Metrication. The consultation began on 3 April 2012 and ends 4 July 2012.
Seveso Directive
The new Seveso III Directive proposal is under negotiation; a report outlining the likely impact on COMAH sites of possible changes is now available.
RR913 – Linking HSE activities to health and safety outcomes: A feasibility study
This research investigates the feasibility and challenges of developing quantitative evidence of links between ongoing activities and reductions in death, injury and causes of ill health caused by work.
Safety chief uses high-hazard visit to distinguish real health and safety from the nonsense
The Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has used a visit to a Cheshire oil refinery to highlight a shining example of a proper approach to health and safety.
Risk of explosion from gas release put lives at risk
A gas company has been fined for putting its employees at risk after a large cloud of flammable gas was released at its Caernarfon depot.
RR899 – High reliability organisations: A review of the literature
In recent years there has been a huge increase in the literature talking about the control of major hazard risks, in particular the philosophies of high reliability organisations, resilience management and safety culture. This report identifies key features and characteristics that need to be adopted by organisations to achieve ongoing high reliability and safety objectives.
Shell UK sentenced over Norfolk gas blast
Energy giant Shell UK Limited has been ordered by Ipswich Crown Court to pay a total of £1.24million in fines and costs over the explosion and fire at its Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk in 2008.
RR872 – Identification of instrumented level detection and measurement systems used with Buncefield in-scope substances
The purpose of this report is to present the current methods and technologies used by industry for implementing tank gauging systems.
Sussex chemical company fined after serious spill
A chemical company has been fined £150,000 after a tank collapsed, releasing a large amount of waste solvents and water at a chemical plant in Rye, East Sussex.
Report reveals fundamental management flaws lay behind Buncefield disaster
Fundamental safety management failings were the root cause of Britain’s most costly industrial disaster, a new publication reveals.
Human factors at play during a large gasoline spillage – case study
The footage shows in stark form how humans react when called upon to manage a known serious risk i.e. a significant gasoline spillage.
COMAH major accident scenarios and risk reduction
This guidance will assist surface engineering sites which fell within the scope of COMAH (Control of Major Accident

