UK CHEMICAL LOGISTICS REPORT SHARP FALL IN ACCIDENT LEVELS

UK chemical logistics companies have reported that accident levels fell by more than 25% in 2011.

The Chemical Business Association’s (CBA) latest Logistics Index shows that, in 2011, its logistics member companies made more than one million journeys to transport over five million tonnes of chemicals.  The CBA Index for 2011 is based on aggregated data from 21 haulage, warehousing and tank farm companies employing 2,874 people.

In addition to the 25% fall in accidents, the Index also shows a decline in the Lost Time Accident rate; a rise in the number of transport incidents; and, that no convictions were recorded against member companies during 2011.

The CBA’s report is the sixth annual review of the safety, health and environmental performance of its members engaged in chemical road haulage, warehousing, and tank farm operations

Andy Beck, Chairman of CBA’s Responsible Care Committee, said, “The sharp fall in accident levels is a good performance which we need to build on during the coming year.  However, the rise in the number of transport incidents is disappointing and is an area we need to improve. In other respects, it is pleasing to be able to report that no convictions were recorded against CBA’s logistics members in 2011.”

Reportable Accidents

The 2011 Logistics Index shows a fall in the number of accidents reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) with logistics member companies reporting 22 accidents (2010 – 30).  Of these, four resulted in serious injury (2010 – 9) and more than half (59%) resulted from a manual handling process or a slip, trip or fall.  Two accidents involved an exposure to harmful substances (2010 – 3).

Lost Time Accidents

The Lost Time Accident (LTA) rate fell by more than 30% to 0.40 (2010 – 0.61). The LTA rate is the ratio of RIDDOR reportable accidents to 100,000 man-hours – the assumed number of hours worked by one person during a lifetime.

Transport Incidents

Incidents involving transport are the key measure of the distribution industry’s performance. In 2011, CBA members reported five transport incidents (2010 – 2). CBA’s figures combine RIDDOR reportable incidents with transport incidents at which the emergency services attended.  Incidents of this kind can include minor traffic accidents, mechanical breakdown or a simple puncture repair. There were 0.89 incidents for every million tonnes of chemicals transported in 2011 (2010 – 0.34).

Enforcement

CBA Logistics Services companies reported 18 enforcement actions in 2011 (2010 – 22). No convictions were recorded against CBA members in 2011.  One HSE Prohibition Notice was issued under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Act and one Improvement Notice was issued under the COMAH regulations  

Of the 16 transport Prohibition Notices issued in 2011, five were in respect of infringements of a minor nature that did not delay the vehicle’s journey and could be rectified later; eleven required the infringement to be rectified immediately.