STORAGE TERMINALS
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TSA now also tracks leading indicators, which have been identified as those events that point to potential problems. These include tank filling above the normal fill level, a trip of the high level alarm, and failure of the trip system during testing. There has been a consistent decline in these numbers since 2010, particularly in respect of overfilling, with only one such event recorded in 2015. There has also been a steady fall in the number of lost time injuries (LTIs) in recent years, both for site employees and for contract workers. While the storage terminal sector, like other high hazard industries, does present a risk of infrequent but high consequence accidents, it is in fact in areas such as slips and falls, contact with chemicals, and accidents involving falling objects or moving vehicles where personnel are far more likely to be hurt. TSA has recorded a notable decline in the number of LTIs involving slips, trips and falls in recent years – this has been a major focus of work by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Indeed, figures produced by TSA show that its members have a far better safety record than other sectors – even the retail and education sectors. Its three-year average non-fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers between 2012 and 2015 was below 250, compared to more than 3,000 in the construction industry.
HAVING THEIR SAY But the terminal sector is not content to rest on its laurels and this year’s Tank Storage Event will bring a number of safety professionals to the conference podium to deliver information to help terminal operators improve yet further on those statistics. In particular, consultant Ian Travers
– formerly with HSE – will speak about site-based assurance in relation to process safety management systems. Mark Scanlon and Toni Needham from the Energy Institute (EI) are scheduled to talk about recent work that EI has been doing in this area – it has
ASSET QUALITY IS VITAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE UK TANK STORAGE SECTOR BUT WORKER SAFETY IS A VITAL INGREDIENT IN EFFICIENT OPERATIONS
recently completed its 20-part guidance on EI’s High Level Framework for process safety management. More specifically, David Ransome, chairman of P&I Design, has been lined up to speak about how to demonstrate compliance with installed safety instrumented systems, something that caused issues when the concept was first taken over into the storage terminal sector. Gerard McCulloch, an inspector at HSE, will give the regulators’ view on good practice in confined space entry and tank cleaning operations – the UK’s record in this area is better than most but safety when undertaking such operations, particularly when contractors are involved, has to be firmly maintained. Niall Ramsden of NRG Consultants and
a lead player in the Lastfire project will bring the audience up to date on firefighting techniques for fires in storage tanks. His presentation will also deal with emergency planning considerations, which have become more crucial since the latest revision to the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations. And another competent authority, the Environment Agency (EA), will be represented by Nicky Cunningham, deputy director for site-based regulation, who is lined up to speak about the impact of recent flooding and the EA’s response. Those who were at the 2015 conference will remember some interesting photos of damage done
to terminals on the UK’s east coast and the lessons that operators can learn.
SHOWING UP AND OFF The day’s event at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry is specifically organised to give delegates plenty of opportunity to browse the exhibition area, where more than 60 service and equipment providers will display their wares. The first vendor visitors will see when
entering the room will be Concrete Canvas, which has been promoting its unique product as a solution for rapid and cost-effective lining of bunds for the past few years. The product itself – essentially concrete on a roll, which has only to be unrolled and wetted to set into the desired form – was initially developed for applications such as ditch lining, but the focus on spill containment highlighted by the Buncefield incident means it has found a whole new audience. There will be some familiar faces elsewhere in the halls, including regular exhibitors such as terminal automation specialist FMA Systems, global engineering and automation company ABB, and leading UK tank gauging provider Motherwell Tank Gauging. Adler+Allen is another regular exhibitor at the TSA event but this year’s stand will have some added interest to visitors following the company’s acquisition earlier this year of Manchester-based King TankTechnic and the launch of A&A TankTechnic Lining Systems. »
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