Buncefield explosion 20 years on: legacy continues to protect people and places, says HSE

Explosion

Buncefield was an oil storage facility in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, located near the M1 motorway. In the early hours of Sunday 11 December, 2005, a major fire started after a storage tank at the depot overfilled, releasing a massive petrol vapour cloud that spread beyond the site perimeter and ignited.

The resulting explosions and fires caused widespread damage and disruption. Although mercifully no lives were lost, it forced thousands of residents and businesses to evacuate. More than 2,000 homes and 600 businesses were affected, with damage extending several kilometres beyond the site.

20 years ago today a major fire started after a storage tank at Buncefield's oil depot overfilled, releasing a massive petrol vapour cloud. Photograph: Flickr / Stuart Axe

'Weak oversight'

HSE identified systematic failings in tank level monitoring, overfill prevention and safety management systems in its subsequent investigation. Weak oversight and inadequate controls allowed large quantities of petrol to overflow undetected, leading to the release of a vapour cloud that ignited with catastrophic force.

HSE, working with the Environment Agency, secured convictions against five companies, who paid almost £10m in combined fines and costs.

Ken Rivers is former Chair of the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Strategic Forum and a member of the Industry Safety Steering Group reporting on progress made by the built environment industry towards achieving culture change following the Grenfell Tower fire. HSE inspectors at the scene after the fire in December 2005. Photograph: HSE

Industry taken ‘more ownership of risk’ since Buncefield

He is also an HSE Board Member, and, speaking today about the explosion’s legacy, he said: “Buncefield has led to profound changes not just in the operational, technical and regulatory aspects of managing major hazards but also in leadership, and the way industry and regulator work together in the UK.”

“It led industry to becoming more self-disciplined, taking ownership, and it led to a more mature and collaborative relationship with the regulator.”

The incident also led to material changes, including stronger standards for fuel storage and transfer operations and new benchmarks for overfill prevention, automatic shutdown, secondary containment and process safety management.

Onshore major hazard industries have recently relaunched the Process Safety Leadership Principles Guidance taking the opportunity of the anniversary to promote good practice.

Sarah Albon, HSE’s Chief Executive commented: “Twenty years on from Buncefield, we remember not only the scale of the incident but also the determination shown by everyone involved to learn from what happened and drive lasting change.

“The comprehensive investigations, reforms to safety standards, and strengthened collaboration between regulators and industry have created a legacy that continues to protect people and places today. Buncefield demonstrated that when we face serious challenges head-on with transparency and commitment to improvement, we can fundamentally change how major hazards are managed.”

HSE on Buncefield 20 years on here

Listen to the first 999 call made after Buncefield explosion here