As a result of their activities the following sites are ‘upper-tier’. They are regulated under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (2015):
- Thanckes Oil Fuel Depot, Torpoint
- Newlyn Downs Explosives Depot, Fiddlers Green
- World Fuels, Falmouth
The Regulations require operators of where dangerous substances are present, to take measures. These measures are necessary to prevent and mitigate the effects of major accidents.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency (EA) check and inspect site operations and activities. This is to ensure that they are undertaken in a safe and responsible manner.
Major accidents are very rare. Emergency arrangements are in place in the unlikely event that they are needed. The site operators have prepared their own on-site emergency plans. Site operators maintain and exercise these.
Cornwall Council Emergency Management has also prepared external emergency plans for each site. These are reviewed and exercised regularly. These plans detail how:
- the emergency services
- Cornwall Council and
- the site operator
will work together to respond to and manage a major accident. They also detail the later recovery of the community and the environment.
Warning and Informing the Public
Regulation 14 of COMAH requires the site operators to share information with the public about their operations. This information is sent to households and businesses within a defined consultation area around each site.