COMAH
(Control Of Major Accident Hazards)

Introduction

The Calor Gas depot at Felixstowe is a Top Tier site under the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 1999. Suffolk County Council produce an off-site plan to explain the coordinated response of the different agencies should a major incident occur.

Each of the responding organisations have their own detailed plans and procedures, the purpose of this plan is to give an overview of the joint response with appropriate references to those detailed arrangements.

Calor Gas (Felixstowe) Plan

The off-site plan for Calor Gas (Felixstowe) is available to view as a pdf document.

(Please note that all plans published on this website are subject to certain conditions, one of which is that they will be reviewed at intervals and, if necessary rewritten in part or in whole. We will not necessarily indicate when a plan is under review, or is being rewritten. The published plan will be updated without notice when these procedures are complete.)

Description of activity

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is delivered by sea tanker to a jetty near Felixstowe Docks, where it is piped to a refrigerated main storage tank. The gas is subsequently loaded into road tankers for distribution.

Risk

A major leak or spillage of LPG, with a potential for fire and a small chance of explosion. A detailed risk assessment containing the list of hazards has been carried out by Calor for the Health and Safety Executive in the preparation of their COMAH Safety Report.

Alert and initial response

In the event of incident Calor will shut down the plant if possible, tackle any fire, call the Port Fire Service and Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service and sound the site alarm. A company representative will meet with the Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service.

Coordination of the emergency response at the scene

The Fire & Rescue Service have a predetermined attendance as part of their Calor Emergency Plan. They will take the lead at the scene and coordinate rescue and fire fighting activities. The other emergency services will assist as dictated by the circumstances and as indicated in their plans.

Support services

As required, each responding organisation will put in place established arrangements to provide support for the personnel responding at the scene, coordination between agencies and internal distribution of information:

• Fire & Rescue Service will deploy their Forward Command Vehicle to the Incident Control Post and may open the Conference Room at Fire & Rescue Headquarters;
• Police will staff the Local Emergency Centre at Police Headquarters in preparation for any decision to open Gold Command;
• Suffolk Coastal District Council will open their Emergency Centre;
and
• Suffolk County Council will open the County Emergency Centre.

Action by those working and living near the site

The advice is the same as in all chemical incidents -

Go in, Stay in, Tune in

• More details can be found on the Go in, Stay in, Tune in page.

Evacuation

Evacuation would only be considered in exceptional circumstances, a decision that will be made by the Fire & Rescue and Police Incident Commanders and coordinated by the Police.

Opening Gold (Strategic) Command

If the Fire & Rescue Service and Police feel that there is a need for a wider coordination of the incident Gold Command would be established.

As well as monitoring progress at the scene Gold Command would provide a joint response to issues such as media interest, pollution control, resource management and public information. These would be addressed by including appropriate representation.

Pollution Control

The gas will disperse into the atmosphere or be burnt. All drains on the site have valves which enable full control of fire water run off. It is not anticipated that there will be any requirement for special pollution control arrangements.