the Competent Authority
Remodelling COMAH
\\ Changing the way we regulate
major hazards
Sarah Shore
Programme Manager
Today’s aims
\\ Provide you with an understanding of the changes you can
expect to see in how the COMAH Competent Authority will
operate the COMAH regime from April 2010 onwards.
The Control of Major Accident
Hazards Competent Authority
\\ protecting people and the environment from, and
limiting the consequences of, major accidents occurring
within the onshore chemical manufacturing and
process industries.
Failure
Objectives
Provide an insight into:
\\ Why the COMAH regime has been reviewed and remodelled
\\ The remodelled arrangements for the assessment of safety
reports
\\ The relationship between the assessment and inspection
processes
\\ The arrangements and procedures for carrying out inspections
on COMAH sites
Objectives (cont.)
\\ The new risk ranking and performance rating systems
\\ The new model for investigation
\\ The new CA Enforcement Policy and procedures
\\ How operational intelligence will be used to inform CA
intervention strategy
Why Remodelling?
\\ COMAH was 10 years old in 2009 – a review is timely
\\ The UK has an excellent track record in implementing COMAH
but there are areas of concern
\\ There are many examples of HSE, EA and SEPA colleagues
working well together but…
\\ there is scope to manage the functions of the CA more
effectively
The changes
\\ Management of the CA
\\ Intelligence and Risk Ranking/Performance Rating
\\ Assessment
\\ Inspection
\\ Investigation
\\ Enforcement
A remodelled Competent Authority
David Jordan
Director of Operations
Intelligence
Purpose statement
Priorities
Plan of work
Operation - Policy - Business
Allan Reid
Head of Protection
and Improvement
Reporting outcomes
Gordon MacDonald
Director Hazardous
Installations
Remodelled intelligence, risk
ranking and performance rating
\\ inform and direct COMAH policy, priorities and delivery at
strategic, operational and tactical levels
\\ drive performance monitoring, learning, and public assurance
\\ identify future and developing trends allowing preventative and
early interventions
\\ make the best use of limited resources in focussing on areas of
concern and poor performance
Remodelled Assessment
\\ deliver tighter arrangements for the timing, pace and conclusion of
the assessment process
\\ rely on an inspection focussed “read through" to identify issues for
the first post assessment inspections to verify demonstrations in
the safety report
\\ rely on inspection to identify specific topics to pursue in
subsequent years
\\ improve communications within the regulatory programme
Remodelled Inspection
\\ increase our capability to compare safety reports against
what is happening on the ground
\\ deliver more specialist resource for site inspection
\\ place a greater emphasis on multidisciplinary team
inspections and less on single topic inspections where
appropriate
\\ provide the ability to deliver cross-cutting programmes of
inspection to assess key national topics
\\ Result in better targeted, prioritised and leaner intervention
plans
Remodelled Investigation
\\ ensure early engagement and exchange of information within
the CA following an incident
\\ introduce a new protocol to assess information and ensure that
appropriate CA oversight is put in place
\\ introduce a structured approach to the investigation of Major
Accidents
\\ ensure the early dissemination of information and learning
points via Safety Alerts and other means
Remodelled Enforcement
\\ There are no fundamental changes to the way we conduct
enforcement
\\ There are some important changes designed to improve our
working within the CA
\\ Remodelled enforcement is consistent with HSE, EA and SEPA
existing enforcement policies
\\ Remodelled enforcement will ensure that regulatory
decisions are more consistent, transparent and timely
Our shared aims
\\ protecting people and the environment from, and
limiting the consequences of, major accidents occurring
within the onshore chemical manufacturing and
process industries.
Thank you
Questions ?