Thursday 01 November 2012
As part of the States of Guernsey preparedness measures, the emergency services and key responding agencies have developed an emergency plan for the fuel storage sites at St Sampsons. This work forms part of the Guernsey's resilience measures following the development of an Island Risk Register for emergencies.
Catherine Veron, the Emergency Planning Officer explained:
"In the unlikely event of an incident occurring at one of the fuel storage sites, the plan would provide a guide for the emergency services and key supporting agencies for ensuring a co-ordinated multi agency response to an incident at the fuel storage sites with possible longer term effects. High levels of safety requirements are in place at each of the fuel storage sites".
She stressed that an incident with off site consequences was very unlikely, however, this was no reason for complacency and the plan would assist in ensuring that a co-ordinated and joined up response was carried out.
The plan forms part of the island's on going resilience work, based against its risk profile and will be supported with training and exercises for responding agencies.
The risks have not changed for the various fuel storage areas in the north of the island; however, the new plan forms part of the island's on going resilience work, based against its risk profile, and will be supported with training and exercises for responding agencies. Whilst for operational reasons it would not be appropriate for the Department to publish the contents of the plan, further information for the public, and in particular, anyone living or working close to the fuel storage areas is now available from: www.gov.gg/majorincidents.
Whilst at the time of the Jersey Gas incident planning work for such an event was already well developed in Guernsey, suitable multi agency coordination and training measures had still to be finalised. These factors have now been finalised in the new plan.
Richard Brown, Chief Health and Safety Officer said:
''For many years we have been working with the site operators to ensure that their sites are designed, constructed and operated to the very highest standard and that should any incident occur it is mitigated to such an extent that it would not endanger third parties off-site.
That said it is also incumbent on our emergency services that they plan for all the possible scenarios which might occur and it is therefore important that these off-site plans dovetail in with those on-site and that they are properly exercised so that all those who may be involved knows what is required of them.''
If any property owners in the near vicinity of the fuel storage sites at St Sampsons would like further information or the opportunity to visit the storage sites, please contact the Emergency Planning Officer, Catherine Veron on 717000 or home@gov.gg to arrange a visit.
