Major industrial hazards advisory papers
Control of major hazard facilities
In recent years, the Department has been supporting the development of proposals by WorkCover NSW for the control of major hazard facilities in NSW in order to reduce the risk of major incidents and limit their consequences. This effort has culminated in the gazettal of the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulation 2008, which came into force on 14 July 2008. The Regulation amendment applies to sites such as oil refineries, chemical-processing plants, liquefied petroleum gas depots, and large chemical warehouses with hazardous materials and explosives storage facilities. These new controls are consistent with regulations used in other states and territories, and bring NSW into line with the National Standard for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities.
Major Industrial Hazards Advisory Papers
The provision of technical guidance was early identified as being an integral part of a proposed regulatory framework for the control of major hazard facilities in NSW. Consequently, the Department prepared a series of draft Major Industrial Hazards Advisory Papers (MIHAPs) to support the technical requirements of the National Standard. The regulatory references in these papers are no longer relevant and they are expected to be eventually superseded by WorkCover NSW guidance specific to the new Regulation. However, they provide valuable general information.
- MIHAP No 1 - Safety Assurance [PDF] - This advisory paper provides guidance on the development and implementation of a safety assurance system. Such a system is important to ensure continual improvement of the Safety Management System (SMS) and effective ongoing management of the control measures for major accident prevention and mitigation. The paper provides specific advice on:
- The MHF operator's obligations to develop and implement a safety assurance system as an essential component of an effective safety management system;
- Review, audit and monitoring activities; and
- The expectations of the relevant public authority (RPA) in assessing the adequacy of the safety assurance system, as described in the operator's Safety Report.
- MIHAP No 2 - Notification, Classification and Prioritisation [PDF] - This paper details the MHF Operator's obligations to notify the MHU of the quantities of hazardous materials stored and handled at the site. It includes:
- Samples of standard forms expected to be used by Operators (eg. Notification Form);
- A detailed description and supporting explanation of the protocol used to identify facilities that may warrant classification as 'Major Hazard Facilities' (MHFs); and
- A brief description of the prioritisation procedure to be used by the MHU.
- MIHAP No 3 - Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control [PDF] - This paper details the MHF Operator's obligations with respect to:
- Hazard identification - the development of a comprehensive understanding of the hazards and events that could lead to a major accident at their facility;
- Risk assessment - the analysis of the likelihood and consequences (including magnitude and effects) of any major accidents, and the analysis and assessment of the risks to people (on- and off-site), property and the environment; and
- Risk control - identification and adoption of measures to prevent major accidents from occurring, or where not possible to prevent them, to minimise their likelihood and consequences.
- MIHAP No 4 - Safety Management Systems [PDF] - This advisory paper provides guidance on the development and implementation of a model SMS as well as outlining the expectations of the RPA in assessing the adequacy of the SMS as described in the operator's Safety Report. The paper provides specific advice on:
- Basic criteria for an effective SMS;
- The safety policy and management commitment to its implementation;
- Management and administration aspects of the SMS; and
- Operational controls related to process safety management.
- MIHAP No 5 - Safety Reporting [PDF] - This paper details the MHF Operator's obligations to demonstrate, in the form of a Safety Report, that hazards and events that could cause a major accident at their facility are clearly understood and that the necessary measures to both prevent those accidents and to limit the likelihood and consequences of any major accidents on people, property and the environment have been taken. This paper includes:
- An outline of the Safety Report format and structure;
- Assessment and management principles; and
- Details of arrangements for staged submission of safety reporting documentation.
- MIHAP No 6 - Training and Education [PDF] - This advisory paper provides guidance on the MHF operator's obligations to develop and implement training and education programs as an essential component of an effective SMS. It also outlines the expectations of the RPA in assessing the adequacy of that program as described in the operator's Safety Report. The paper provides advice on:
- The case for effective training and education at MHFs and the consequences of the absence of such a program;
- Development of a program that addresses the essential elements to ensure that the program is comprehensive and based on solid foundations; and
- Critical issues to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
- MIHAP No 7 - Emergency Planning [PDF] - This paper provides guidance to industry on emergency planning and outlines specific obligations for the Operators of MHFs relating to the establishment, maintenance, testing and review of an emergency plan that addresses both on-site and off-site effects of a major accident. The paper discusses:
- The principles of emergency planning;
- Outlines issues that should be addressed when preparing a plan;
- Provides a framework for documenting the emergency plan; and
- Discusses aspects of its on-going management
- MIHAP No 9 - Accident Reporting and Investigation [PDF] - This paper details the Operator's obligations to notify the MHU of the occurrence of major accidents and near misses. This paper includes:
- A discussion of approaches to ensure root causes are identified and similar incidents are prevented;
- The requirements for investigation of major accidents and near misses, including sample report forms.