The Buncefield Accident
Date
2020-04-06
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Abstract
The Process failure that occurred at Buncefield site, Hertfordshire, UK was one of the landmark
incidents in the process safety concerns of vapor cloud explosion. The vapor cloud that formed
was due to overfilled large storage tank, containing unleaded fuel. The overflow of the tank was
the result of a failed level indicating system and lack of operator‟s attention at the site. A legal
investigation on the incident was carried out by Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board
(BMIIB), which presented the causes for the explosion and the recommendations for future
prevention. The report briefly discusses the series of steps that led to the major incident. Prior to
the Buncefield, a massive explosion on such scale was not predicted; hence the Buncefield
incident breaches the worst case scenario that was predicted for vapor cloud explosion. The
report also provides the explanation regarding why the explosion breaches the worst case
scenario for predicted strength of the vapor cloud explosion. Moreover similar accidents are also
presented along with the recommendations presented by Buncefield Major Incident
Investigation Board.
Description
Keywords
Process Failure, Process Safety, Vapor Cloud Explosion