Buncefield Disaster - Essay Example

Buncefield Disaster In the world today many kinds of disasters, catastrophes and accidents take place. The world has always been in a cycle of all these events together. As the population has grown many such incidents have been witnessed which can be counted in any of the three categories. The major accidents can be referred to as disasters and catastrophes. Disasters and catastrophes are again events which can either be caused by man or naturally. It can be said that accidents can cause damage to life and property but the intensity of damage here is less than that of catastrophes and disasters. Disasters are major accidents which take place on a large scale in specific areas. However it is not necessary that the whole areas are affected by these large scale disasters. Such a disaster which would be described in this report would be a mass disaster which took place on the 11th of December 2005. The disaster famously known as the Buncefield disaster took place because of an overfilled storage tank at the Buncefield Oil Depot located close to Hemel Hempstead, Herfordshire UK. The disaster was so huge that it expanded and took over other 20 storage tanks and the fire further spread. The horrible incident resulted in the combustion of that area for several days (Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board, 2006). The oil depot that was destroyed in that incident was one of the largest distribution terminals employed to store refined oil, petrol, aviation turbine fuel, diesel and other kerosene supplies. The explosion that started in the early morning of 11th December, 2005 resulted in the explosion of the large stocks of these refined products. The explosion was further fortified by petrol, diesel, gas and other products. The intensity of the disaster remained firm for 3-4 days. The last major combustions were stubbed out on Wednesday 14th December. However, the fire was not completely extinguished until 15th December. The explosion was so intense that the blast was heard up to about 200 miles (320 km) away. The devastating blast affected the nearby area including commercial buildings and the industrial area. The working week directed towards a great loss of many workers who were supposed to be residing there. 43 people were harmed; however, luckily no serious injuries or deaths were recorded. The spectators and crews found this incident much destructive and confirmed that it is possibly the largest incident of this sort in peacetime Europe. The blast did not only blaze the buncefield depot but also destroyed the emergency water supply system and entirely hindered perimeter roads. The blasts and explosions are identified as having severe affects on both short-term and long-term wellbeing of people who experience it or are exposed to the burning pollutants. Hoek, Bracebridge and Oliver carried out a research to identify the impacts of this devastating incident on people’s health. The study was designed to measure the medical consequences of this explosion on people and included records of A&E departments of Hemel Hempstead and Watford. The records were closely examined and it was the basic motive to examine only those who are affected by this particular event. The study concluded that most of the cases involved showed respiratory irritation like exacerbation of asthma, difficulty in breathing properly, throat infection and cough. The study places injuries as the second most common case identified. However, the injuries that are reported do not include any serious wound except one fracture. Headache, psychological strain and anxiety were also identified to be the common consequences of this incident (Hoek, Bracebridge and Oliver, 2005). The blast resulted in increasing plume which happened because of the high buoyancy caused by the heat of combustion. The plume penetrated the layers of the atmosphere to yet pose another adverse affect on the air. The wind shear on the first day of explosion was observed which ended up creating a fan like emergence of the plume as exposed by images from NASA and Aqua satellites. The anti-cyclonic situations kept the atmosphere quite normal by keeping the plume from the boundary layer. Much of the plume was identified to move towards rge free troposphere (UK, 2005). On the second of the blast, north-easterly winds resulted in the transportation of the plume to the south-west. During 13th and 14th December the winds reversed the plume towards the north. On the last day (i.e. 15th December) a little fire was reported at the area. The winds that day were recorded to be strong and were blowing towards the north-west. The rest of the plume was hence reported to move and disperse in the moderate winds of south-east. Appropriate measure and investigations suggest that this incident did not result in affecting the ground-level air quality and the reason that resulted in this situation is the high buoyancy of plume helping the emissions to move aloft the lower atmosphere. The climatic conditions were also a factor that helped in maintaining the atmosphere and pollution level. The situation would be worse if it had occurred during the summer (DEFRA). In order to analyze the land effects on the environment caused by the disaster steps were taken by the organizations which included the excavation of pits and these excavations were sent to laboratories to check the contamination. It was found that the surface layer of the soil was contaminated with the oil and products of fire fighting. It was also found with the in-depth analysis of the soil that hydrocarbons and PFOS were present in the soil. However it has been noticed that rapid steps have been taken to ensure that land is once again safe for practices. The fire fighting products over the soil were first disposed off so that they did not pose any risk to the individuals. They were disposed of in the rivers which might pose a threat to the environment. Similarly it was also noticed that the clean drinking water supply of Buncefield was maintained after the incident took place. After the incident took place it was also noticed that the surface and ground waters were starting to get concentrated in the rivers. This directly had an affect on the aquatic life and posed a threat to the survival of the aquatic life. The levels of the chemicals fell however after a certain time in the rivers but it was till found that small quantities of chemicals could still be found in the rivers. Measures were taken by the emergency services so that it could be made sure that the contaminated water did not contaminate the drinking water. Supply management of drinking water was changed so that it was assured that water did not disrupt the stability of the environment. Similarly organizations were given responsibilities of handling the issues of the site so that the safety of the site and individuals could be assured. However one factor which still poses a threat to the site is rainfall. Rainfall may affect the soil of the site once again and all the contaminated soil which was once removed from the site may once again take over the soil to pollute it (NFPA, 2006). If the depot is closed permanently because of the contamination that was caused on the site because of the chemicals and after effects of the fire which took place on that day then it would be necessary to take certain steps to assure that the depot is developed enough to build properties. Firstly as it is seen that the area surrounding the depot is contaminated and so strict measures would be taken so that this contamination is removed from the surrounding area. Not only the contamination of the area has been caused by the disaster but the air in that particular area has also been affected because of the chemical imbalances which took place on that day. First of all to analyze the conditions and state of the surroundings of the oil depot it would be necessary that steps are taken so that it can be seen that if the disaster can have direct effects on building properties or not. The soil in the area would be the first step that would be taken so as to analyze the contamination of the soil that has been done with the gases and the chemicals that leaked out on that day. Analyzing the soil would help to know if properties can be build on that site or not as if the soil is improper then the properties cannot be built on that site. And if the properties are even then build on that site then it would be noticed that the soil would either erode the property or would make the foundations of the property weak. The soil can also prove to be harmful for the individuals who would live on the property. The air in that area would then be analyzed so that the chemical imbalances in that area are noticed (The Safety & Health Practitioner, 2006). This can be done by using different techniques which would help to understand the effects of the gases which were let out on the day that disaster took place. The harmful effects of the chemicals in the soil would also be analyzed so that it can be known as to if the site is suitable enough for people to live or not. It would be analyzed that if residential properties can be built on that soil or not and people can freely move on that area or not. The water in the area also seemed to be contaminated after the processes which were taken for the control of the fire. It was seen that the aquatic life was put in danger because of the fact that fire-water was disposed into the rivers. It would be seen then if the living conditions of that area are suitable or not. The availability of water and other resources in that area would be analyzed so that it can be seen that the people who would settle in that area would be able to settle or not. By other resources here it is meant the basic necessities of life which include food shelter and living conditions. Water would be given the foremost importance in analyzing all the factors. Special techniques would be done so that it can be seen that water in that area is suitable for drinking or not. After the area has been analyzed properly measures would be taken so that the risks posed by the disaster to properties and people can be reduced. The contamination being the foremost factor in affecting both properties and people would be considered first. The developer would try to minimize the effects that the contamination would pose. Firstly the soil of that area would be targeted by the developer so that the properties can be built safely. The soil can be purified and techniques can be used so that the soil gets purified. Scientific research has shown that soil can be purified if proper organic substances are used with a catalyst. Such a technique can be useful for the developer so that he can be able to purify the soil in the overall area. Similarly the air of that area would also be contaminated by the pollutants in the area and it would be necessary for the developer to invent such techniques which are useful in removing these pollutants of the air. Here the developer can use an air purifier which would help to purify the air in the surroundings and remove the effects of the pollutants on the individuals living in the area. As the area is huge the developer would have to use massive equipments to limit the contamination done by the disaster in the area. Similarly the basic necessities of the life would be revived so that properties can be built on the soil there and people can live in that area. Water would be considered very important by the developer and he would tend to use techniques which would help to derive purified water. Such techniques would help to ensure that water is delivered to the residents of the area which is of the highest quality. All these factors should be kept in mind by the developed so that residential or commercial properties can be restored in the area surrounding the depot and life can be retrieved once again (Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board, 2008). After reviewing the official investigation of the event it can be established that the explosions took place at 0600 and around 20 storage tanks were engulfed by the fire spread because of the explosions. The fire could not be stopped for many days and when it was stopped huge amounts of water and foam were used which contaminated the soil and water courses. The emergency services immediately took over the place and evacuated about 2000 people from the vicinities of the Buncefield Depot. Immediate measures were taken so that water in the vicinities was not polluted to the extend to which it would have otherwise. Gases which were released by the fire could not be controlled and they are a cause of global warming. The disaster had economic and social impacts too along with the physical effects. The disaster paralysed many businesses and a number of people living in the vicinities were affected. The fire was so huge that some businesses had to temporarily shut down till the effects of the disaster were minimized. The houses in the vicinities were also affected and as analyzed by the report around 300 houses were affected by the disaster to a lesser extent. Highway was immediately blocked after the incident took place so that further damage was not caused to the people. The report establishes that the fire took place only because of the overfilling of the tanks. The fire began because of a huge cloud which took over the tanks and many of the individuals in the vicinities witnessed the cloud. The CCTV cameras are another source which helps to establish that the smoke was the cause of the fire. It is also established that this smoke ignited a flammable mixture which was the main cause of the fire which took place. All the factors mentioned above were found in the official investigation which took place after the incident took place. The investigation provided its final report on 11th December 2008 which also recommends laws and regulations to retrieve the Depot as a place to live (Great Britain & Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board, 2008). With the increase in the disasters all the countries in the world today have to design a special plan in case of a disaster or catastrophe. Similarly the United Kingdom has laid down plans which comprises of a whole cycle so as to avoid the harmful effects of a disaster or catastrophe. This whole cycle either helps in avoiding the risks of creating a disaster or a catastrophe or it helps in decreasing the effects. Through this cycle all the hazards which comprise an accident, disaster or catastrophe are tried to be avoided. The management plans are usually carried out by local organizations in the UK. The management plan comprises of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Bibliography: Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board. Buncefield Major Incident Investigation, initial report 10 June 2006. Available at: . The Buncefield Incident 11 December 2005 The final report of the Major Incident Investigation Board Volume 2. 2008 GREAT BRITAIN, & BUNCEFIELD MAJOR INCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD (GREAT BRITAIN). (2008). The Buncefield incident, 11 December 2005: the final report of the Major Incident Investigation Board. Sudbury, Health and Safety Executive. BUNCEFIELD MAJOR INCIDENT INVESTIGATION BOARD. (2006). The Buncefield Investigation: progress report. Great Britain, s.n.]. UNITED KINGDOM: SMOKE PLUME FROM FIRE AT BUNCEFIELD OIL DEPOT DISAPPEARING. 2005. US Fed News Service, Including US State News, December 14, http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed January 20, 2010). HOEK MR, BRACEBRIDGE S, & OLIVER I. (2007). Health impact of the Buncefield oil depot fire, December 2005: study of accident and emergency case records. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England). 29, 298-302. Major joint investigation launched into Buncefield blast. 2006. The Safety & Health Practitioner, February 1, 7. http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed January 20, 2010). Roy Wilsher. 2006. BUNCEFIELD OIL DEPOT FIRE. NFPA Journal, May 1, 86-92. http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed January 20, 2010). DEFRA: Initial review of Air Quality aspects of the Buncefield Oil Depot Explosion Read More