In our previous blog, we looked back at the Buncefield incident, our role in the response, and how it shaped the way we regulate high-risk sites.
For this second piece, we want to share first-hand experiences from some of our colleagues who were directly involved. Their memories highlight the scale of the incident and how it continues to influence our work today.
Colin Chiverton, Area Environment Manager, Thames Area
“On 5 December 2005, I was the first person from the Environment Agency to attend Gold Command at Hertfordshire Police Headquarters for the multi-agency response. I then led the Agency’s joint complex and major investigation, with the Health and Safety Executive, into the cause and environmental consequence of the incident. I continued to lead our investigation until, in July 2010, we attended St Albans Crown Court for the sentencing of the five guilty defendants.
The outcome of the investigation was a landmark fine for environmental pollution and consequences to the high-hazard industry. I was proud of the whole team response and result – but what a five years of our lives.”
Rob Argent, Operations Team
“Even after 20 years I have vivid memories of the incident and the emergency response. Every day on my way to the Hatfield EA offices I used to drive along a small lane called Three Cherry Tree Lane that runs right alongside the fuel terminal. I lived in Hemel Hempstead at the time of the major accident and by chance I was on incident standby duty. I attended some of the initial emergency services command meetings.
My father also worked for a company located only a few hundred metres from the fuel terminal. After Buncefield, his company was forced to relocate and my old shortcut was closed for many years. I now work in COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) regulation in the South West, inspecting high-hazard sites similar to Buncefield and making sure operators apply the lessons learnt from this major accident.”
Michael Nicholas, Senior Advisor for COMAH and Climate Change Adaptation
“My memories of Buncefield stack up like a pile of postcards, a series of images of catastrophe but also hope. From the day of the incident, supporting the Environment Agency response as an officer at our Area Incident Room, through weeks and months of on-site investigation, the preparation of court files and the subsequent work to ensure lessons have been learned forever.
I am proud of my role in ensuring learning from Buncefield has led to significant improvements in industrial safety, protecting people and the environment from major accidents. Some specific memories remain etched in my mind:
• The menacing black cloud hanging above my garden, 45 miles away from Buncefield.
• The hundreds of fluorescent-clad emergency service personnel packed into the foyer of the Hemel Hempstead Holiday Inn, all working with a common aim – to bring the site under control while protecting people and the environment.
• The first day investigating on site: twisted metal, shattered glass, collapsed ceilings, and a black oily lake over what had once been a tree-lined country lane.
• Weeks later, returning to see the exhausted, pale faces of oil company staff – often forgotten as Buncefield victims.
• Months later, collecting a formal groundwater sample that looked like dark stout but smelled strongly of oil.Beyond those moments, I remember the determined faces of regulators and industry experts working together to revise countless codes, standards and good practice documents – all to ensure an incident like Buncefield should never happen again.”
A reflection on Buncefield
The memories shared by our colleagues show how deeply the Buncefield incident affected those involved. Their stories underline why the Environment Agency continues to work so closely with partners and industry to minimise the risk of another major industrial accident.
A message from our Chief Regulator Director, Jo Nettleton
“The Buncefield explosion 20 years ago was a pivotal moment for industrial safety and environmental protection. In its aftermath, we helped shape new fuel storage standards and worked closely with the industry and other regulators across England, Scotland and Wales to embed the lessons learned, which were published in 2011.
This progress demonstrates the power of collaborative regulation that is evidence and intelligence based to target the highest controls to the highest risks and apply it proportionately and consistently. Even 20 years later, remediation work at Buncefield is on-going. It stands as a reminder of what’s at stake and of what can be achieved when regulation drives continuous improvement and safeguards both people and the environment.
As we look to the years ahead, emerging risks from ageing infrastructure, climate change, and new technologies are presenting new challenges. We are meeting those challenges by strengthening our COMAH regulatory capacity to work even more closely with operators to enhance oversight, improve risk management, and continue to ensure robust safety controls are in place”.
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