The Buncefield Investigation


Book Description

The explosions at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot on 11 December 2005 resulted in injuries to more than 40 people and significant damage to the surrounding area and the environment. This publication is a response by the DWP and the Competent Authority (the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to the first two reports from the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) on (1) the design and operation of fuel storage sites and (2) emergency preparedness for, response to and recovery from major incidents, which may be viewed at http://www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk/index.htm. Overall, good progress has been made against the Board's recommendations both at fuel storage sites as well as other Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) sites. Some of the recommendations set a higher standard than is generally in place in the sector, and their introduction needs to be planned and phased in with care, not least to avoid compromising the resilience of the UK's fuel supply. On the second report, a programme of action has been devised and positive work at local level has enhanced the resilience and effectiveness of emergency response. This response outlines progress against recommendations in each report.




Health Protection


Book Description

Health Protection: Principles and practice is a practical guide for practitioners working at all levels in public health and health protection, including those with a non-specialist background. It is the first textbook in health protection to address all three domains within the field (communicable disease control; emergency preparedness, resilience and response (EPRR); and environmental public health) in a comprehensive and integrated manner. Written by leading practitioners in the field, the book is rooted in a practice-led, all-hazards approach, which allows for easy real-world application of the topics discussed. The chapters are arranged in six sections, which begin with an in-depth introduction to the principles of health protection and go on to illuminate the three key elements of the field by providing: case studies and scenarios to describe common and important issues in the practice of health protection; health protection tools, which span epidemiology and statistics, infection control, immunisation, disease surveillance, and audit and service improvement; and evidence about new and emerging health protection issues. It includes more than 100 health protection checklists (SIMCARDs), covering infections from anthrax to yellow fever, non-infectious diseases emergencies and environmental hazards. Written from first-hand experience of managing communicable diseases these provide practical, stand-alone quick reference guides for in-practice use. Both the topical content of Health Protection: Principles and practice, and the clearly described health protection principles the book provides, makes it a highly relevant resource for wider public health and health protection professionals in this continually evolving field.




Principles of Forensic Engineering Applied to Industrial Accidents


Book Description

An introductory text on the investigation of industrial accidents Forensic engineering should be seen as a rigorous approach to the discovery of root causes that lead to an accident or near-miss. The approach should be suitable to identify both the immediate causes as well as the underlying factors that affected, amplified, or modified the events in terms of consequences, evolution, dynamics, etc., as well as the contribution of an eventual "human error". This book is a concise and introductory volume to the forensic engineering discipline which helps the reader to recognize the link among those important, very specialized aspects of the same problem in the global strategy of learning from accidents (or near-misses). The reader will benefit from a single point of access to this very large, technical literature that can be only correctly understood with the right terms, definitions, and links in mind. Keywords: Presents simple (real) cases, as well as giving an overview of more complex ones, each of them investigated within the same framework; Gives the readers the bibliography to access more in-depth specific aspects; Offers an overview of the most commonly used methodologies and techniques to investigate accidents, including the evidence that should be collected to define the cause, dynamics and responsibilities of an industrial accident, as well as the most appropriate methods to collect and preserve the evidence through an appropriate chain of security. Principles of Forensic Engineering Applied to Industrial Accidents is essential reading for researchers and practitioners in forensic engineering, as well as graduate students in forensic engineering departments and other professionals.




Professionalizing Offender Profiling


Book Description

Offender profiling is now viewed as an integral part of serious crime investigations by many law enforcement agencies across the world and continues to attract a high public and media profile. Despite almost three decades of research and developments in the field, the public impression of offender profiling is still influenced by misleading media portrayals, which fail to acknowledge the significant developments in theory, research and practice. This book is the only book on the market to illustrate in detail the actual practice of Behavioural Investigative Advice, its diversity in application, the underpinning academic literature and the remaining research questions and recommendations. Focussing on the professionalization of this developing discipline, it provides a fascinating insight into the modern role of a Behavioural Investigative Adviser, dispelling many of the myths still associated with offender profiling, and illustrating the continued aspiration of contemporary practitioners to adhere to the highest scientific standards. It provides a journey through the significant efforts to professionalise both the process and product of Behavioural Investigative Advice, supported by relevant theoretical, methodological and operational considerations. Edited by and containing contributions from some of the most respected and experienced researchers and practitioners working today, this book will be essential reading for Police Officers, researchers, students and anyone with an interest in the professionalization and contemporary contribution of forensic psychology to 21st century criminal investigation.




Major Accidents to the Environment


Book Description

- If our plant catches fire, when should it be allowed to burn down to prevent pollution? - When does enforcement turn into prosecution, following an environmental accident? - Will our environmental insurance cover the costs of remediation? This book provides a thorough and practical guide to the environmental aspects of compliance with the Seveso II Directive and COMAH regulations and surrounding issues. It guides readers through the technical, legal and insurance related complexities unique to the environmental aspects of Seveso II/COMAH. Individual chapters and sections written by relevant experts explain the implications of the Directive/Regulations and other laws that relate to major accident hazards. Valuable case studies underpin and illuminate the arguments presented. The comprehensive appendices contain a wealth of further case studies as well as focused supporting information on environmental design, assessment and management of major hazard installations, for safety, prevention and environmental professionals, risk assessors, insurers, managers and their legal advisors. Dr Ivan Vince is Director of ASK Consultants and co-founder of one of the first industrial risk consultancies in Eastern Europe. He has investigated several environmental accidents. Related titles: Introduction to Emergency Management, 2e Haddow and Bullock 978-0-7506-7961-9 Introduction to International Disaster Management, Coppola 978-0-7506-7982-4 Learning from Accidents, 3e, Kletz 978-0-7506-4883-7* This is the only guide to working with and implementing the Seveso II-Directive and COMAH regulations* Written by leading risk management, scientific, legal, and engineering experts, this book provides all of the key elements an organization must manage in order to comply* Accompanied by a comprehensive data handbook that enables managers and health & safety professionals to assess and apply the approaches required in the Directives




Guidelines for Investigating Process Safety Incidents


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive treatment of investing chemical processing incidents. It presents on-the-job information, techniques, and examples that support successful investigations. Issues related to identification and classification of incidents (including near misses), notifications and initial response, assignment of an investigation team, preservation and control of an incident scene, collecting and documenting evidence, interviewing witnesses, determining what happened, identifying root causes, developing recommendations, effectively implementing recommendation, communicating investigation findings, and improving the investigation process are addressed in the third edition. While the focus of the book is investigating process safety incidents the methodologies, tools, and techniques described can also be applied when investigating other types of events such as reliability, quality, occupational health, and safety incidents.




Advances in Fire and Process Safety


Book Description

This book presents the proceedings of the International Conference on Health, Safety, Fire, Environment, and Allied Sciences (HSFEA 2016). The book highlights the latest developments in the field of science and technology aimed at improving health and safety in the workplace. The volume comprises content from leading scientists, engineers, and policy makers. The papers included in this volume look at identifying the limitations of the existing approaches and open new avenues for future research. The book also looks at the accident and work-health records, specifically in Asian countries, and discusses measures to improve the Asian standards and implementation issues with regards to workplace health and safety. The contents of this volume will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers alike.




Forensic Psychologists Casebook


Book Description

This book aims to demonstrate how forensic psychology contributes to police investigations, providing practical information about the type of reports provided by psychologists and behavioural advisors, and set within a broader theoretical context. It asks the question 'What do practitioners actually do when they provide advice for the police and the courts and how do they do it?' The contributors to the book are all experts in the field of offender profiling and behavioural investigative advice. The chapters provide valuable insights into particular case details, the ethical and legal consequences of advice, coverage of the relevant theoretical context, explanations for conclusions drawn, practical difficulties in preparing reports, potential pitfalls, and an account of how cases are resolved.




Policing Critical Incidents


Book Description

The aim of this book is to examine the qualities of leadership and decision-making in the police service. Based on groundbreaking research using unique, advanced methods for examining policing in complex critical incident environments, the book focuses principally on a series of police debriefs following live major critical incidents. It captures the views of the Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) who worked on these cases and draws upon the very rich set of experiences that they have had in dealing with complex, stressful and demanding enquiries. The book provides an introduction to new methods for exploring leadership and decision-making in critical incidents. It will be an essential resource for developers of police training in leadership and decision-making, senior police officers involved in critical incident management, organisational psychologists who work within policing, and for students whose area of study covers policing, decision-making or criminal investigation.




Trevor Kletz Compendium


Book Description

Trevor Kletz has had a huge impact on the way people viewed accidents and safety, particularly in the process industries. His ideas were developed from nearly 40 years working in the chemical industry. When he retired from the field, he shared his experience and ideas widely in more than 15 books. Trevor Kletz Compendium: His Process Safety Wisdom Updated for a New Generation introduces Kletz's stories and ideas and brings them up to date in this valuable resource that equips readers to manage process safety in every workplace. Topics covered in this book include inherent safety, safety studies, human factors and design. Learn the lessons from past accidents to make sure they don't happen again. - Focuses on understanding systems and learning from past accidents - Describes approaches to safety that are practical and effective - Provides an engineer's perspective on safety