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The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) PDF
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1 STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND 2015 No. 325 HEALTH AND SAFETY The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 Made th August 2015 Coming into operation - 28th September
3 STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND 2015 No. 325 HEALTH AND SAFETY The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 Made th August 2015 Coming into operation - 28th September Citation and commencement 2. Interpretation 3. Application and exceptions 4. The competent authority CONTENTS PART 1 INTRODUCTION PART 2 GENERAL DUTIES OF OPERATORS OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS 5. General duties of operators 6. Notifications 7. Major accident prevention policies PART 3 SAFETY REPORTS FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS 8. Purposes of safety reports 9. Requirements relating to the preparation of safety reports 10. Review of safety reports PART 4 EMERGENCY PLANS FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS 11. Objectives of emergency plans 12. Preparation, review and testing of internal emergency plans 13. Preparation of external emergency plans 14. Review and testing of external emergency plans 15. Exemption of Executive from arranging preparation of an external emergency plan
4 16. Implementing emergency plans PART 5 INFORMATION 17. Provision of information to the public 18. Provision of information to persons likely to be affected by a major accident at an upper tier establishment 19. Provision of information pursuant to a request 20. Trans-boundary consequences 21. Power of the competent authority to accept information in another document PART 6 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY 22. Examination of safety reports by the competent authority 23. Prohibition of operation 24. Domino effects and domino groups 25. Inspections and investigations PART 7 ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOLLOWING A MAJOR ACCIDENT 26. Action to be taken following a major accident 27. Enforcement and penalties PART 8 ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES PART 9 FEES 28. Fees payable by operators to the competent authority 29. Fees payable to Executive for arranging for the preparation, review and testing of external emergency plans PART 10 CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS, REVOCATIONS, SAVING AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 30. Amendments 31. Revocations 32. Saving provisions 33. Transitional provisions SCHEDULE 1 DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES PART 1 CATEGORIES OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES 2
5 PART 2 NAMED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES PART 3 NOTES TO PARTS 1 AND 2 SCHEDULE 2 REQUIREMENTS AND MATTERS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SCHEDULE 3 MINIMUM DATA AND INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN A SAFETY REPORT SCHEDULE 4 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EMERGENCY PLANS PART 1 INTERNAL EMERGENCY PLANS PART 2 EXTERNAL EMERGENCY PLANS SCHEDULE 5 CRITERIA FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SCHEDULE 6 AMENDMENTS PART 1 AMENDMENT TO PRIMARY LEGISLATION PART 2 AMENDMENTS TO SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION SCHEDULE 7 REVOCATIONS The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment(a), being the Department concerned(b), makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 ( the 1972 Act )(c) and Articles 17(1) to (6)(d), 40(2) to (4), 54(1) and 55(2) of, and paragraphs 1(1) and (2), 14, 15 and 19 of Schedule 3 to the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978(e) ( the 1978 Order ). The Department was designated(f) for the purposes of section 2(2) of the 1972 Act in relation to measures relating to the prevention and limitation of the effects of accidents involving dangerous substances. The Regulations give effect to proposals submitted to it by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland under Article 13(1A)(g) of the 1978 Order after the Executive had carried out consultations in accordance with Article 46(3)(h). It appears to the Department that (a) the modifications to the subordinate legislation referred to in Schedule 6; and (b) the revocations in relation to the instruments referred to in Schedule 7, are expedient for the purposes of Article 54(1) of the 1978 Order. It also appears to the Department not to be appropriate to consult bodies in respect of those revocations and modifications for the purposes of Article 54(5) of the 1978 Order. (a) Formerly the Department of Economic Development; see S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1), Article 3(5); that Department was formerly the Department of Manpower Services, see S.I. 1982/846 (N.I. 11), Article 3 (b) See Article 2(2) of S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9) (c) 1972 c. 68; the enabling powers conferred by section 2(2) were extended by virtue of section 1 of the European Economic Area Act 1993 (c. 51). Section 2(2) was further amended by section 27(1) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51) and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7) (d) Article 17 shall be read with S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Articles 3(2) and 4(2) (e) S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9): the general purposes of Part II referred to in Article 17(1) were extended by S.I. 1992/1728 (N.I. 17), Articles 3(1) and 4(1). Article 55(2) was amended by S.I. 1998/2795 (N.I. 18), Article 6(1) and Schedule 1, paragraph 19 (f) S.I. 1998/1750 (g) Article 13(1) was substituted by S.I. 1998/2795 (N.I. 18), Article 4 (h) Article 46(3) was amended by S.I. 1998/2795 (N.I. 18), Article 6(1) and Schedule 1, paragraphs 8 and 18 3
6 These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the 1972 Act and it appears to the Department that it is expedient for the references in these Regulations to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008(a) on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC and amending Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, to be construed as including references to Annex I, Part 1.0, 1.1, Parts 2 to 4 and, Annex VI, Part 3 Table 3.1 of that instrument as those provisions are amended from time to time. Citation and commencement PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and shall come into operation on 28th September Interpretation 2. (1) In these Regulations the 1978 Order means the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; the 2000 Regulations means the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(b); CAS number is the number assigned to a substance by the Chemical Abstracts Service(c); the CLP Regulation means Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC and amending Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, of which Annex I, Part 1.0 and 1.1, Parts 2 to 4 and, Annex VI, Part 3 Table 3.1 are to be read as amended from time to time(d); competent authority has the meaning given in regulation 4; dangerous substance means (subject to regulation 3(2)(b) and (c)) a substance or mixture (a) listed in column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1; or (b) in a category listed in column 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1, including in the form of a raw material, product, by-product, residue or intermediate; the Department means the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment; designated authorities means (a) a Northern Ireland department; (b) a district council established under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(e); (c) the emergency services; (d) a Health and Social Care Trust established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991(f); (e) the Regional Health and Social Care Board; (a) O.J. No L353, , p.1 (b) S.R No. 93, as amended by S.R No. 305, S.R No. 424, S.R No. 132, S.R No. 161 and S.R No. 74 (c) Chemical Abstracts Service (www.cas.org), is a division of the American Chemical Society (d) O.J. No L353, , p.1 (e) 1972 c. 9 (f) S.I. 1991/194 (N.I. 1) 4
7 (f) the Public Health Agency established under section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009(a); the Directive means Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/98/EC(b); domino effects is to be construed in accordance with regulation 24(2); domino groups is to be construed in accordance with regulation 24(1) and a reference to domino group is to be read accordingly; emergency services means (a) those police, fire and rescue and ambulance services who are liable to be required to respond to an emergency at an establishment; and (b) where appropriate, Her Majesty s Coastguard; establishment means the whole location under the control of an operator where a dangerous substance is present in one or more installations, including common or related infrastructures or activities, in a quantity equal to or in excess of the quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 2 of Part 1 or in column 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 1, where applicable using the rule laid down in note 4 in Part 3 of that Schedule; the Executive means the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland; existing establishment has the meaning given in paragraph (2); external emergency plan is to be construed in accordance with regulation 13(1); full address means the full postal address (including postcode) and an address for contact by electronic means; hazard means the intrinsic property of a dangerous substance or physical situation, with a potential for creating damage to human health or the environment; inspection means all actions, including (a) site visits; (b) checks of internal measures, systems and reports and follow up documents; and (c) any necessary follow up, undertaken by or on behalf of the competent authority to check and promote compliance of establishments with the requirements of these Regulations; inspector means a person appointed under Article 21 of the 1978 Order by the Executive; installation means a technical unit within an establishment, whether at or below ground level, in which dangerous substances are produced, used, handled or stored and includes all the equipment, structures, pipelines, pipework, machinery, tools, private railway sidings, docks, unloading quays serving the installation, jetties, warehouses or similar structures, floating or otherwise, necessary for the operation of that installation; internal emergency plan is to be construed in accordance with regulation 12(1); lower tier establishment means an establishment where a dangerous substance is present in a quantity equal to or in excess of the quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 2 of Part 1 or in column 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 1, but less than that listed in the entry for that substance in column 3 of Part 1 or in column 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1, where applicable using the rule laid down in note 4 of Part 3 of that Schedule; major accident means an occurrence such as a major emission, fire, or explosion resulting from uncontrolled developments in the course of the operation of any establishment to which these Regulations apply, and leading to serious danger to human health or the environment (a) 2009 c. 1 (b) O.J. No. L 197, , p. 1 5
8 (whether immediate or delayed) inside or outside the establishment, and involving one or more dangerous substances; major accident prevention policy is to be construed in accordance with regulation 7; mixture means a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances; neighbouring establishment means an establishment that is located in such proximity to another establishment so as to increase the risk or consequences of a major accident; new establishment means (a) an establishment that is constructed or enters into operation on or after 28th September 2015; (b) a site of operation which becomes an establishment to which these Regulations apply on or after 28th September 2015 due to an increase or other change in its inventory of dangerous substances; (c) a lower tier establishment that becomes an upper tier establishment, or vice versa, on or after that date due to any modification to any of its installations or activities which results in a change in its inventory of dangerous substances; operator means the person who is in control of the operation of an establishment, or in relation to an establishment which is to be constructed or operated the person who proposes to control its operation, or if that person is not known, the person who in the course of a trade, business or other undertaking carried on by that person has commissioned its design and construction; other establishment means (a) a site of operation that becomes an establishment to which these Regulations apply on or after 28th September 2015; or (b) a lower tier establishment that becomes an upper tier establishment, or vice versa, on or after that date, for reasons other than those mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c) (as the case may be) of the definition of new establishment ; pipelines means pipelines to which the Pipelines Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997(a) apply; the public means one or more persons and, includes their associations, organisations or groups; presence of a dangerous substance means the actual or anticipated presence of a dangerous substance in the establishment, or of a dangerous substance which it is reasonable to foresee may be generated during loss of control of the processes, including storage activities, in any installation within the establishment, in a quantity equal to or in excess of the qualifying quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 2 of Part 1 or column 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 1, and where a dangerous substance is present is to be construed accordingly; Regional Health and Social Care Board means the Regional Health and Social Care Board established under section 7 of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009; risk means the likelihood of a specific effect occurring within a specified period or in specified circumstances; safety report is to be construed in accordance with regulation 8; storage includes warehousing, depositing in safe custody or keeping in stock; upper tier establishment means an establishment where a dangerous substance is present in a quantity equal to or in excess of the quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 3 of Part 1 or in column 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1, where applicable using the rule laid down in note 4 of Part 3 of that Schedule. (a) S.R No. 193, as amended by S.R No. 150 and S.R No
9 (2) For the purposes of these Regulations existing establishment means an establishment (a) where on 27th September 2015 a dangerous substance or category of substance listed in column 1 of Parts 2 or 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2000 Regulations was present in a quantity equal to or in excess of the quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 2 of those Parts, but less than that listed in the entry for that substance in column 3 of those Parts, where applicable using the rule laid down in note 4 to Part 3 of that Schedule, and which on 28th September 2015 was a lower tier establishment; or (b) where on 27th September 2015 a dangerous substance or category of substance listed in column 1 of Parts 2 or 3 of Schedule 1 to the 2000 Regulations was present in a quantity equal to or in excess of the quantity listed in the entry for that substance in column 3 of those Parts, where applicable using the rule laid down in note 4 to Part 3 of that Schedule, and which on 28th September 2015 was an upper tier establishment, other than one which has ceased to be an existing establishment. (3) For the purposes of paragraph (2) an establishment ceases to be an existing establishment (a) within paragraph (a) of the definition of that term if, on or after 28th September 2015, the establishment becomes an upper tier establishment; (b) within paragraph (b) of the definition of that term if, on or after 28th September 2015, the establishment becomes a lower tier establishment. (4) Where a new establishment becomes subject to these Regulations due to an increase, decrease or other change in its inventory of dangerous substances, any reference in these Regulations to the start of operation of the establishment, is a reference to the time when the establishment first becomes subject to the Regulations by reason of that increase, decrease or change. (5) The columns in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 1 are to be applied subject to the notes in Part 3 of that Schedule. (6) Where a substance listed in column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 is also covered by a category in column 1 of Part 1 of that Schedule, the quantities set out in columns 2 and 3 of Part 2 shall be used. (7) Any reference in these Regulations to writing includes writing which is communicated or kept in electronic form and which can be printed. (8) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(a) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly. Application and exceptions 3. (1) These Regulations apply to any establishment which is either a lower tier establishment or an upper tier establishment. (2) These Regulations do not apply to any of the following (a) an establishment which is under the control of (i) the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Ministry of Defence; (ii) a headquarters or organisation designated for the purposes of the International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Act 1964(b) or the service authorities of a visiting force within the meaning of any of the provisions of Part 1 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952(c); (b) hazards created by ionising radiation originating from substances; (c) substances which create a hazard from ionising radiation if present on a nuclear establishment; (a) 1954 c.33 (N.I.), as amended by S.I. 1999/663 (b) 1964 c. 5 (c) 1952 c. 67 7
10 (d) the exploitation, namely the exploration, extraction and processing, of minerals in mines and quarries, including by means of boreholes, except any of the following which involve dangerous substances (i) onshore underground gas storage in natural strata, aquifers, salt cavities and disused mines; (ii) chemical and thermal processing operations and storage related to those operations; (iii) operational tailings disposal facilities, including tailing ponds or dams; (e) the offshore exploration and exploitation of minerals, including hydrocarbons; (f) the storage of gas at underground offshore sites including dedicated storage sites and sites where exploration and exploitation of minerals, including hydrocarbons, are also carried out; (g) waste landfill sites, including underground waste storage, except (i) any of the following that involve dangerous substances (aa) chemical and thermal processing operations and storage related to those operations; or (bb) operational tailings disposal facilities, including tailing ponds or dams; (ii) sites used for the storage of metallic mercury in accordance with a permit issued under Part 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013(a). The competent authority 4. For the purposes of these Regulations the competent authority is the Executive and the Department of the Environment acting jointly. PART 2 GENERAL DUTIES OF OPERATORS OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS General duties of operators 5. (1) Every operator shall take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences for human health and the environment. (2) Every operator shall demonstrate to the competent authority that it has taken all measures necessary as specified in these Regulations. (3) Every operator shall provide the competent authority with such assistance as is necessary to enable the competent authority to perform its functions under these Regulations. (4) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (3), every operator shall in particular provide such assistance as is necessary to the competent authority to enable it to (a) carry out inspections and investigations; and (b) gather any necessary information, in connection with the performance of its functions under these Regulations. Notifications 6. (1) Within a reasonable period of time prior to the start of construction of a new establishment the operator shall send to the competent authority a notification containing the following information (a) S.R No. 160, as amended by S.R No
11 (a) the name of the operator and the full address of the establishment; (b) the registered place of business of the operator, with the full address; (c) the name and position of the person in charge of the establishment; (d) sufficient information to identify the dangerous substances and category of substances involved or likely to be present; (e) the quantity and physical form of the dangerous substance or substances referred to in sub-paragraph (d); (f) the activities or proposed activities of the installations or storage facilities; (g) a description of the immediate environment of the establishment, and factors likely to cause a major accident or to aggravate the consequences of a major accident including, where available, details of (i) neighbouring establishments; (ii) sites of operation that fall outside the scope of these Regulations; and (iii) areas and developments that could be the source of or increase the risk or consequences of a major accident and of domino effects. (2) Subject to paragraph (3), within a reasonable period of time prior to the start of operation of a new establishment the operator shall send to the competent authority a notification containing the information specified in paragraph (1). (3) The operator is not required to include in a notification under paragraph (2) any information included in a notification sent under paragraph (1), if that information is still valid. (4) The operator of an existing establishment shall send to the competent authority a notification containing the information specified in paragraph (1) by 1 June (5) The operator of an other establishment shall send to the competent authority a notification containing the information specified in paragraph (1) within one year beginning on the date on which the establishment, or site of operation, first becomes an other establishment. (6) The operator of any establishment to which these Regulations apply shall notify the competent authority in advance of (a) a significant increase or decrease in the quantity of dangerous substances notified under this regulation; (b) a significant change in (i) the nature or physical form of the dangerous substances notified under this regulation; or (ii) the processes employing them; (c) any modification of the establishment or an installation which could have significant consequences in terms of major accident hazards; (d) permanent closure of the establishment or its decommissioning; or (e) any change in the information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) to (c). (7) The competent authority shall specify, in writing (a) the form of notification under this regulation; and (b) the means by which operators shall send them to the competent authority. Major accident prevention policies 7. (1) Subject to paragraph (4), every operator shall prepare and retain a written major accident prevention policy. (2) A major accident prevention policy shall (a) be designed to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment; (b) be proportionate to the major accident hazards; 9
12 (c) set out the operator s overall aims and principles of action; and (d) set out the role and responsibility of management, and its commitment towards continuously improving the control of major accident hazards. (3) A major accident prevention policy shall be prepared by the operator (a) of a new establishment, within (i) a reasonable period of time prior to construction or operation of the establishment; or (ii) a reasonable period of time period prior to modifications leading to a change in the inventory of dangerous substances at the establishment; (b) of an existing establishment, by 1st June 2016; (c) of an other establishment, within one year beginning on the date on which the establishment, or site of operation, first becomes an other establishment. (4) Where (a) the operator of an existing establishment had, immediately before 28th September 2015, prepared and retained a major accident prevention policy under regulation 5 of the 2000 Regulations; (b) the information contained within that policy remains materially unchanged; and (c) that policy complies with the requirements of these Regulations, the operator is not required to prepare a further major accident prevention policy under paragraph (1). (5) Where an operator of an existing establishment is not required to prepare a major accident prevention policy by virtue of paragraph (4) (a) the major accident prevention policy prepared by that operator under regulation 5 of the 2000 Regulations is to be treated as a major accident prevention policy prepared under this regulation; and (b) the policy shall be retained by the operator in accordance with this regulation. (6) An operator shall review its major accident prevention policy (a) in the event of (i) a significant increase or decrease in the quantity of dangerous substances notified under regulation 6; or (ii) a significant change in (aa) the nature or physical form of the dangerous substances notified under regulation 6; or (bb) the processes employing them, which could have significant consequences in terms of major accident hazards; and (b) in any event no later than five years after the date on which the policy was last reviewed, and where necessary it shall revise and retain the revised policy. (7) An operator shall implement its major accident prevention policy by a safety management system. (8) A safety management system shall (a) satisfy the requirements in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2; and (b) address the matters specified in paragraph 2 of that Schedule. 10
13 PART 3 SAFETY REPORTS FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS Purposes of safety reports 8. Every operator of an upper tier establishment shall prepare a safety report for the purposes of (a) demonstrating that a major accident prevention policy and a safety management system for implementing it have been put into effect in accordance with the information set out in Schedule 3; (b) demonstrating that the major accident hazards and possible major accident scenarios in relation to the establishment have been identified and that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent such accidents and to limit their consequences for human health and the environment; (c) demonstrating that adequate safety and reliability have been taken into account in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of any installation, storage facility, equipment and infrastructure connected with the establishment s operation which are linked to major accident hazards inside the establishment; (d) demonstrating that an internal emergency plan has been prepared in accordance with regulation 12, which includes sufficient information to enable an external emergency plan to be prepared; (e) providing sufficient information to the competent authority to enable decisions to be made regarding the siting of new activities or developments around establishments. Requirements relating to the preparation of safety reports 9. (1) A safety report prepared by an operator shall (a) contain as a minimum the data and information specified in Schedule 3; and (b) identify the organisations involved in preparing it. (2) The operator shall send the safety report to the competent authority (a) where the establishment is a new establishment, within a reasonable period of time prior to (i) the start of construction of the establishment; (ii) the start of operation of the establishment; or (iii) any modifications leading to a change in the inventory of dangerous substances at the establishment; (b) where the establishment is a existing establishment (i) in any case where a review of the safety report (within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the 2000 Regulations) would, had those Regulations not been revoked by these Regulations, have been required to be carried out by the operator before 1st June 2016, no later than five years after the relevant date; (ii) in any other case, on or before 1st June 2016; or (c) where the establishment is an other establishment, within two years beginning on the date on which the establishment, or site of operation, first becomes an other establishment. (3) An operator is not required to include in a safety report any information previously sent to the competent authority under paragraph (2), if that information remains valid. (4) Where an operator had, immediately before 28th September 2015, sent to the competent authority a safety report in relation to an establishment under regulation 7 or 8 of the 2000 Regulations ( the original report ), that operator may comply with paragraph (2)(b) by sending to the competent authority only those parts of the original report that are revised to ensure 11
14 compliance with regulation 8, this regulation and Schedule 3, and the original report (and its revised parts) is to be treated as a safety report sent under paragraph (2)(b). (5) The competent authority may specify in writing the format of revisions to be provided under paragraph (4). (6) Where (a) an operator had, immediately before 28th September 2015, sent to the competent authority a safety report in relation to an establishment under regulation 7 or 8 of the 2000 Regulations; (b) the information contained within that report remains materially unchanged; and (c) it complies with the requirements of regulation 8, this regulation and Schedule 3, the operator is not required to send to the competent authority a further safety report under paragraph (2)(b). (7) Subject to regulation 23 (prohibition of operation), an operator shall not (a) where paragraph (2)(a)(i) applies, start construction of an establishment; (b) where paragraph (2)(a)(ii) applies, start operation of an establishment; (c) where paragraph (2)(a)(iii) applies, make any modifications leading to a change in the inventory of dangerous substances at an establishment, until it has received from the competent authority the conclusions of the competent authority s examination of the safety report under regulation 22. (8) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) relevant date, in relation to a safety report within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the 2000 Regulations, means (a) the date on which the safety report was last sent to the competent authority under regulation 7 or 8(1) of those Regulations, or (b) the date on which it was last notified under regulation 8(2) or (4) of those Regulations, whichever is later. Review of safety reports 10. (1) A safety report shall be reviewed and, where it is necessary, revised by the operator (a) in any case where regulation 9(6) does not apply, no later than five years after the date on which (i) it was last sent to the competent authority; or (ii) where it was not required to be sent to the competent authority, it was last reviewed by the operator; or (b) in any case where regulation 9(6) applies, no later than five years after the date on which the safety report was last sent to the competent authority under regulation 7 or 8 of the 2000 Regulations. (2) Despite paragraph (1), a safety report shall be reviewed and, where necessary, revised by the operator (a) following a major accident at the establishment; (b) where a review is justified by new facts or by technological knowledge about safety matters, including knowledge arising from analysis of accidents or near misses; (c) where a review is justified by developments in knowledge concerning the assessment of hazards; (d) before making any modifications to the establishment, process or the nature or physical form or quantity of dangerous substances which could have significant consequences for major accident hazards; (e) following any change to the safety management system (referred to in paragraph 2 of Schedule 3) which could have significant consequences for the prevention of major 12
15 accidents or the limitation of the consequences of major accidents to human health and the environment. (3) In carrying out a review of a safety report the operator shall take into account the purposes specified in regulation 8 and the data and information specified in Schedule 3. (4) Except where paragraph (5) applies, a revised safety report, or revised parts of a report, shall be sent by the operator to the competent authority without delay. (5) Where paragraph (2)(d) applies, a revised safety report, or revised parts of it, shall be sent by the operator to the competent authority in advance of the proposed modification. (6) Where a safety report has been reviewed under this regulation, but not revised, the operator shall inform the competent authority in writing without delay. PART 4 EMERGENCY PLANS FOR UPPER TIER ESTABLISHMENTS Objectives of emergency plans 11. Every internal emergency plan and external emergency plan prepared for the purposes of these Regulations shall have the following objectives (a) containing and controlling incidents so as to minimise the consequences, and to limit damage to human health, the environment and property; (b) implementing the necessary measures to protect human health and the environment from the consequences of major accidents; (c) communicating the necessary information to the public and to the services or authorities concerned in the area; and (d) providing for the restoration and clean up of the environment following a major accident. Preparation, review and testing of internal emergency plans 12. (1) Every operator of an upper tier establishment shall prepare an internal emergency plan, specifying the measures to be taken inside the establishment. (2) An internal emergency plan shall be prepared by the operator (a) where the establishment is a new establishment, within a reasonable period of time prior to the start of operation of the establishment or any the modifications leading to a change in the inventory of dangerous substances at the establishment; (b) where the establishment is an existing establishment, by 1st June 2016; or (c) where the establishment is an other establishment, within two years beginning on the date on which the establishment, or site of operation, first becomes an other establishment. (3) Despite paragraph (1), the operator of an existing establishment is not required to prepare an internal emergency plan if (a) the on-site emergency plan prepared under regulation 9 of the 2000 Regulations, immediately before 28th September 2015, remains materially unchanged; and (b) it complies with the requirements of regulation 11 and this regulation, in which case it is to be treated as an internal emergency plan prepared under this regulation. (4) An internal emergency plan shall contain the information specified in Part 1 of Schedule 4. (5) In preparing an internal emergency plan the operator shall consult (a) persons working in the establishment; (b) the Department of the Environment; (c) the emergency services; 13
16 (d) the Health and Social Care Trust for the area where the establishment is situated; and (e) the Executive, unless the Executive has been exempted under regulation 15 from the requirement to arrange for the preparation of an external emergency plan in respect of the establishment. (6) An operator shall at suitable intervals not exceeding three years (a) review and, where necessary revise the internal emergency plan; and (b) test the plan. (7) Where paragraph (3) applies, the operator shall first comply with paragraph (6) before the expiry of three years after the on-site emergency plan was prepared or last reviewed under the 2000 Regulations. (8) In carrying out a review of an internal emergency plan, the operator shall take into account (a) any changes at the establishment or within the emergency services concerned; (b) any relevant new technical knowledge; and (c) any relevant new knowledge concerning the response to major accidents. Preparation of external emergency plans 13. (1) Subject to regulation 15, the Executive shall arrange for the preparation of an external emergency plan, specifying the measures to be taken outside each upper tier establishment. (2) An external emergency plan shall be prepared no later than six months (or such longer period not exceeding nine months agreed by the Department in writing) after the receipt of the necessary information from the operator. (3) The operator shall provide the Executive with the information necessary to enable it to arrange for the preparation of an external emergency plan. (4) The information in paragraph (3) shall be provided to the Executive before the date on which the internal emergency plan is required to be prepared for the establishment under regulation 12(2). (5) Despite paragraph (1), the Executive is not required to arrange for the preparation of an external emergency plan if (a) the off-site emergency plan prepared under regulation 10 of the 2000 Regulations, immediately before 28th September 2015, remains materially unchanged; and (b) it complies with the requirements of regulation 11 and this regulation, in which case it is to be treated as an external emergency plan prepared under this regulation. (6) An external emergency plan shall contain the information specified in Part 2 of Schedule 4. (7) In arranging for the preparation of an external emergency plan the Executive shall consult (a) the operator; (b) the Department of the Environment; (c) the designated authorities who are liable to be required to respond to an emergency at the establishment; and (d) such members of the public and other persons as it considers appropriate. Review and testing of external emergency plans 14. (1) The Executive shall at suitable intervals not exceeding three years (a) review and where necessary revise the external emergency plan; and (b) test the plan. (2) Where regulation 13(5) applies, the Executive shall first comply with paragraph (1) before the expiry of three years after the off-site emergency plan was prepared or last reviewed under the 2000 Regulations. 14
17 (3) In carrying out a review of an external emergency plan, the Executive shall take into account (a) any changes at the establishment or within the designated authorities concerned; (b) any relevant new technical knowledge; and (c) any relevant new knowledge concerning the response to major accidents. (4) Where the Executive is of the opinion that an external emergency plan requires substantial revision, it shall consult the persons referred to in regulation 13(7) before making those revisions. (5) Where the Executive is of the opinion that in order to test adequately an external emergency plan the co-operation of one or more designated authorities is necessary, it may in writing request such co-operation from those authorities. (6) Where a designated authority has received a request in accordance with paragraph (5), it shall co-operate in the testing of the external emergency plan. Exemption of Executive from arranging preparation of an external emergency plan 15. (1) The Department may, with the agreement of the Department of the Environment, exempt the Executive from the requirement to arrange for the preparation of an external emergency plan under regulation 13(1) where, taking into account the information contained in the safety report for the relevant establishment, the Department is of the opinion that the establishment is incapable of creating a major accident hazard outside the establishment. (2) An exemption granted by the Department under paragraph (1) shall be in writing and state the reasons for granting it. (3) The Department may, with the agreement of the Department of the Environment, withdraw an exemption granted under paragraph (1) by specifying, in writing, the date on which the exemption will cease to apply and the date by which an external emergency plan shall be prepared. Implementing emergency plans 16. An operator who has prepared an internal emergency plan or the Executive which has arranged for the preparation of an external emergency plan shall take reasonable steps to ensure that it is put into effect without delay if (a) a major accident occurs; or (b) an uncontrolled event occurs which by its nature could reasonably be expected to lead to a major accident. Provision of information to the public PART 5 INFORMATION 17. (1) The competent authority shall make the following information available to the public, including by electronic means, in relation to every establishment (a) the name of the operator and the address of the establishment; (b) confirmation that these Regulations apply to the establishment and that the notification required by regulation 6, and the safety report required by regulation 9, has been sent to the competent authority; (c) an explanation in simple terms of the activity or activities undertaken at the establishment; (d) the hazard classification of the relevant dangerous substances involved at the establishment which could give rise to a major accident, with an indication of their principal dangerous characteristics in simple terms; 15
18 (e) general information about how the public will be warned, if necessary, and adequate information about the appropriate behaviour in the event of a major accident or an indication of where that information can be accessed electronically; (f) the date of the last site visit carried out further to a programme for routine inspections under regulation 25(5), and where more detailed information about the inspection and the related inspection plan can be obtained upon request; (g) details of where further relevant information can be obtained. (2) In addition to the information in paragraph (1), the competent authority shall make the following information available to the public, including by electronic means, in relation to every upper tier establishment (a) general information relating to the nature of the major accident hazards, including their potential consequences on human health and the environment, summary details of the main types of major accident scenarios and the control measures to address them; (b) confirmation that the operator is required to make adequate arrangements within the establishment, in particular liaison with the emergency services, to deal with major accidents and to minimise their consequences; (c) appropriate information from the external emergency plan in relation to dealing with any consequences outside the establishment from a major accident, which shall include advice about co-operating with any instructions or requests from the emergency services at the time of an accident; (d) where applicable, an indication as to whether the establishment is close to the territory of another Member State with the possibility of a major accident with trans-boundary consequences under the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents(a). (3) The competent authority shall ensure that the information in paragraph (1) (a) is made available to the public within a reasonable period of time from the date on which the establishment becomes subject to these Regulations; and (b) is kept updated. (4) The competent authority shall ensure that the information in paragraph (2) (a) is made available to the public within a reasonable period of time from the date on which the establishment becomes an upper tier establishment; and (b) is kept updated. (5) The operator of an establishment shall (a) provide the competent authority with (i) the information specified at paragraph (1)(a) to (e) and, in the case of an upper tier establishment, the information specified at paragraph (2); and (ii) revisions to that information when it becomes necessary to update it; (b) comply with any reasonable request for information from the competent authority, within such period specified in the request, in connection with the preparation of information by the competent authority under paragraph (1) or (2). (6) The competent authority shall specify in advance in writing (a) the means by which operators shall provide information under paragraph (5); and (b) the format in which it shall be provided. (7) The Environment and Safety Information (Northern Ireland) Order 1993(b) applies to a notice served under (a) O.J. No. L326, , p. 1 (b) S.I. 1993/3159 (N.I. 14) 16
19 (a) regulation 23 (Prohibition of operation) as it applies to a notice served under Article 24 of the 1978 Order; or (b) Article 23 of the 1978 Order in respect of a contravention of these Regulations, as if the reference in the second column of the Schedule to the 1993 Order to an enforcing authority as defined in Article 2(2) of the 1978 Order were a reference to the competent authority. Provision of information to persons likely to be affected by a major accident at an upper tier establishment 18. (1) An operator of an upper tier establishment shall ensure that (a) every person who is likely to be in the area referred to in paragraph (2); and (b) every school, hospital or other area of public use which is in the area referred to in paragraph (2), is sent in the most appropriate form, without having to request it, clear and intelligible information on safety measures and requisite behaviour in the event of a major accident at the establishment. (2) The area referred to in paragraph (1), is the area notified to the operator by the competent authority as being the area within which, in the opinion of the competent authority, persons are liable to be affected by a major accident occurring at the establishment. (3) The information sent under paragraph (1) shall include at least the information required to be made available to the public under regulation 17(1) and (2). (4) In preparing the information under paragraph (1), the operator shall consult with the Executive. (5) The operator shall review and, where necessary revise, the information sent under paragraph (1) (a) at intervals not exceeding 3 years; or (b) in the event of any modification of the establishment or an installation which could have significant consequences in terms of major accident hazards. (6) The information required under paragraph (1) shall be sent to every person and every school, hospital or other area of public use referred to in that paragraph (a) if it is revised following a review under paragraph (5); or (b) otherwise, at intervals not exceeding 5 years. Provision of information pursuant to a request 19. (1) Where an operator is of the opinion that environmental information which it sends to the competent authority under these Regulations should not be made available on request by reason of an exception in regulation 12 or 13 of the 2004 Regulations, the operator shall, when it sends that information to the competent authority, inform the competent authority in writing of its opinion and the reasons for it. (2) Where it receives a request for environmental information under the 2004 Regulations the competent authority shall, in dealing with that request, take into account any opinion and reasons provided by the operator in accordance with paragraph (1) in relation to that information. (3) In this regulation (a) the 2004 Regulations means the Environmental Information Regulations 2004(a); and (b) environmental information has the meaning, in the case of information sent to the Executive or the Department of the Environment, given by regulation 2(1) of the 2004 Regulations. (a) S.I. 2004/3391, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations 17
20 Trans-boundary consequences 20. (1) Where an upper tier establishment presents a major accident hazard with possible transboundary consequences the competent authority shall provide sufficient information to the potentially affected Member State so that the Member State can take this into account in preparing emergency plans and in preparing land use planning policies, or in making land use planning decisions in respect of applications. (2) Where the competent authority has decided that an upper tier establishment close to the territory of another Member State is incapable of creating a major accident hazard beyond the boundary of the establishment and exempts the Executive under regulation 15 from the requirement to produce an external emergency plan, the competent authority shall notify that Member State of its decision and its reasons. Power of the competent authority to accept information in another document 21. (1) Where the competent authority considers it to be expedient, it may permit an operator to provide all or part of the information that the operator is required to include in (a) a notification under regulation 6; (b) a major accident prevention policy; (c) a safety report; (d) an internal emergency plan; or (e) details of action to be taken following a major accident provided under regulation 26(1), by reference to information contained in another document sent to the Department of the Environment pursuant to a requirement imposed under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013(a) ( the relevant document ). (2) Where the competent authority grants permission under paragraph (1), an operator shall, at the time of sending the information contained in the relevant document inform the competent authority in writing, if it is seeking to rely on paragraph (1) and the extent of that reliance by reference to the relevant sub-paragraphs of that paragraph. (3) The competent authority shall assess whether the information contained in the relevant document satisfies the requirements of the relevant provisions of these Regulations and inform the operator of its decision in writing. (4) If the competent authority is of the opinion that the information contained in the relevant document does not satisfy the requirements of the relevant provisions of these Regulations, the operator may not rely on that document as satisfying the requirements of those provisions. PART 6 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY Examination of safety reports by the competent authority 22. The competent authority shall within a reasonable period of time following receipt of a safety report (a) communicate the conclusions of its examination of that safety report to the operator of the establishment; or (b) if necessary prohibit the bringing into operation, or continued operation, of the establishment, or any part of it, in accordance with regulation 23. (a) S.R No