Health and Safety Update (August 2009)

Are you responsible for an LPG installation?

Nine people died and 33 were injured after a catastrophic explosion at ICL Plastics in Glasgow in 2004. The explosion was caused by corroded pipework which led to a build up of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the building's basement. The explosion caused the four-storey factory to collapse.

Regulatory weaknesses highlighted by a recently published report investigating the accident include a failure by the HSE to prioritise inspections of older LPG installations that feature buried pipework, inadequate training of inspectors in LPG hazards and risks and a failure to ensure the effective follow-up of inspections that indicated the existence of risks on LPG sites.
A recent report recommends a four-phase plan involves:

• the urgent identification of those sites where there is underground metallic pipework, and to replace all such pipework with polyethylene, and an early inspection of all buildings that have an LPG supply
• the establishment of a permanent and uniform safety regime governing the installation, maintenance, monitoring and replacement of all LPG systems
• development of the safety regime, particularly in relation to the use of polyethylene pipes
• a permanent system by which safety questions will be reviewed and dealt with on an industry-wide basis, by which knowledge and understanding is effectively communicated both within the HSE and from the HSE and UKLPG to suppliers and users.

A major programme has been launched to begin to address these issues. It will attempt to assess and improve the condition of underground service pipework carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from bulk storage tanks to industrial and commercial premises in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Industry and its representative body, UKLPG – working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is carrying out a survey of some 60,000 businesses with such LPG pipework and will use the data to develop a programme which will prioritise the replacement of metallic service pipework starting in the autumn. Service pipework means the pipework carrying vapor phase LPG from the bulk tank as far as the premises where it is used (usually the emergency cut-off valve on the outside of a building).

It does not include pipework:

• within buildings
• carrying liquid phase LPG, such as is used for Autogas or fork lift truck filling or for aerosol filling.

The main aim is to identify businesses with metallic service pipework. This corrodes over time so they will have to lay replacement pipework made from more durable materials, such as polyethylene as soon as possible on a prioritised basis. The oldest metallic pipework in the least well-maintained condition and located in the most corrosive soils being replaced first.

• Businesses can either complete the survey online at www.hse.gov.uk/lpg - or respond to the questionnaire sent to them by their LPG supplier by post. You will need your 'Delivery Point Reference' (your supplier's unique site reference) if completing on line.

Industry and HSE will then draw up a replacement and inspection programme prioritising high, medium and low risk businesses.

Responsibility for ensuring the safety and maintenance in industrial LPG pipework will normally rest with site operators – including landlords, site owners or directors – although it can also fall to gas suppliers if they own the pipe.

Site operators are required by law to provide information on the type and condition of pipework and installation. They are legally responsible for complying with safety regulations.

LPG is safe when stored and used in compliance with the relevant health and safety legislation, standards and industry codes of practice (UKLPG publishes a wide range of such codes, see http://www.uklpg.org/).

Contact the Advice Service or your Consultant for more detailed information.