Industrial Accidents and Major Fires
What is the risk of industrial accidents and major fires in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire?
There are several organisations in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire that store or use potentially dangerous substances.
These sites are regulated by the Control of Major Accident Hazard regulations (COMAH). They exist to reduce the effects of major accidents involving dangerous substances.
The regulations apply to any site storing or handling large quantities of industrial chemicals. Operators must take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences for people and the environment.
How could an industrial accident or major fire
affect you and your property?
A major fire or industrial accident could cause:
- Risk to life
- Casualties/ injury
- Toxic smoke from the site and poor air quality in surrounding areas
- Disruption to utilities, which may need to be turned off temporarily (electricity, gas, and water)
- Damage to local properties and businesses
- Local road closures causing traffic disruption
- Some people may have to be evacuated from local houses and buildings in close proximity
- Some people may be asked to stay inside and keep windows and doors shut
- Strain on emergency responder organisations
- Temporary disruption to daily routines due to emergency response activities.
We can all be better prepared to
respond and recover from industrial accidents and major fires
Pay attention to public information leaflets
The area surrounding COMAH-regulated sites is known as the public information zone (PIZ). If you live within or near a PIZ you will receive flyers and other guidance telling you what to do should there be an accident.
Prepare a grab bag
What would you need if you had to leave in a hurry? What would your family or your pets need?
Include essential items such as medications, ID, bottled water, snacks, a phone charger, pet supplies, and important documents.
Know your local emergency contact points
Familiarise yourself with your local council's website and emergency services' social media channels so you know where to look for updates in a crisis.
How to prepare your business
Responding
during an incident
- Go In, Stay In, Tune In. If you are near an industrial site when an accident happens, you should go inside straight away. Once inside, stay where you are and tune into local radio stations and social media channels for further information.
- Follow guidance given. Listen to the news on local radio stations and follow any instructions that you are given. This guidance might be to leave or stay in your home, whether you can use your vehicle, and what arrangements are being put in place to look after you. If you have an internet connection, follow updates from your local council on their website or social media.
- If you are nearby when a large fire occurs, go inside and ensure doors and windows are closed. Only leave the property if asked to evacuate by responding agencies such as the Police or the Fire and Rescue Service.
- Listen to the radio, check emergency services’ websites or look at social media for updates.
- There will be a significant presence of emergency service vehicles at the scene, and the area will be very busy. Please keep a safe distance and avoid gathering or observing the incident as a bystander.
Find your emergency contacts for industrial accidents and major fires
What is being done to become
better prepared?
LRF partners work with COMAH site operators regularly to develop plans on how they will help residents and businesses in the event of an incident.
LRF partners will issue information and guidance for the public. We regularly test our emergency response plans to make sure they are effective. This will include on-site exercises so we know the layout of the sites.
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service carry out fire safety inspections of all large buildings and works with industrial sites to reduce the risk that an accident will happen and to better understand the specific risks at each site.
All COMAH sites must be approved by the competent authority, which comprises the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Who is responsible for managing
industrial accidents and major fires in the county?
Health and Safety Executive information:
Some of our partners
