New oil depot safety procedures announced

A task group set up by the oil industry and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced eight separate safety improvements for oil depots to prevent a repeat of the Hertfordshire blast - with timetables to bring in the changes ranging from January to June next year.

The task group based its new measures on recommendations made by Lord Newton's official inquiry into the December 11 blast, which was published in July.

By January site managers will have brought in procedures to confirm they have enough storage space for fuel coming through pipelines and are able to shut down the tanks in an emergency.

Managers must also improve tank-operating practices, staffing levels and systems, to give effective safety margins to stop fuel escaping. Workers' shift changeovers must also be improved to make sure important information is passed on.

Fire-safe shut-off valves must be fitted to all inlet and outlet pipes of tanks by April 2007. By May the containment "bunds'' housing the tanks must be capable of resisting fire, with joints in the concrete walls modified.

Tank-filling systems must be improved by June next year so they can independently allow early and safe shutdown to stop any possible overflow.