Buncefield report finds flaws in training and advice for oil industry staff

Unions have called for improved training and advice for staff in the oil industry following the publication of the fifth report by the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

The report challenged the industry to strengthen safety standards at UK sites handling large quantities of fuel to prevent another disaster like the Buncefield oil-storage depot explosions, which hospitalised 60 people in 2005. It focuses on factors such as training, competence, defining appropriate workloads, staffing and working conditions for front-line personnel.

Ron Webb, national secretary for transport at the Transport and General Workers’ Union said: “Our members have their responsibilities, but that means they also need properly resourced training, advice and ongoing support from employers who recognise their responsibilities too.