Home » LP Gas Industry » Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Publishes Formal Response following Lord Gill’s ICL Inquiry Report

 

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Publishes Formal Response following Lord Gill’s ICL Inquiry Report

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has published its preliminary formal response to the ICL inquiry. Following publication of Lord Gill’s report on July 16, work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper asked HSE to outline what action it was taking to address areas of concern identified by the inquiry.

In its response, HSE reported that it had produced a proper assessment of the risks associated with the use of lpg and was making progress with the lp gas industry on preparing a risk-based and prioritised replacement programme for underground metallic lpg gas pipework to be complete by the end of 2015. HSE also said it had gone further than Lord Gill suggested by developing plans for tackling the risks to domestic as well as commercial properties with lp gas supplies.

Judith Hackitt, HSE chair, said: “Although the development of the lpg pipework replacement programme with the lpg supply industry has taken some time, this was due to the need to act on the basis of evidence and to do the necessary preparation for such a major undertaking. It’s important that all interested parties now respond to our consultation on the proposed changes to the lpg regulatory scheme and on the wider issue of whether risk assessments should require third party validation.”

Higher risk buried metallic lpg gas pipework is targeted to be replaced by the end of 2013. There are estimated to be between 15,000 and 40,000 industrial and commercial premises with buried metallic lp gas pipework and between 24,000 and 54,000 domestic properties. HSE has launched a preliminary consultation on the recommendations made by Lord Gill for reform of the regulatory system for lpg. It is seeking initial views on key proposals, including that a new safety regime should be put in place governing the installation, maintenance, monitoring and replacement of all lpg gas systems; a new scheme should be introduced that would require all lp gas suppliers to be registered and accredited, and an independent audit process should be added to the current risk assessment system.

Contact the Health & Safety Executive on 08453 450055 www.hse.gov.uk