The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015

Action to be taken following a major accident E+W+S

26.—(1) Following a major accident, the operator of the establishment where the accident occurred must, as soon as practicable—

(a) inform the competent authority of the occurrence of the accident;

(b) provide the competent authority with the following information as soon as it becomes available—

(i) the circumstances of the accident;

(ii) the dangerous substances involved;

(iii) the data available for assessing the consequences of the accident on human health, the environment and property; and

(iv) the emergency measures taken;

(c) inform the competent authority of the steps it is envisaged are required in order to—

(i) mitigate the medium term and long term consequences of the accident; and

(ii) prevent any recurrence of such an accident;

(d) update the information provided under sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), if further investigation reveals additional facts which alter that information or the conclusions drawn.

(2) Following a major accident the competent authority must—

(a) ensure that any urgent, medium term and long term measures which may prove necessary, are taken;

(b) collect by inspection, investigation or other appropriate means the information necessary for a full analysis of the technical, organisational and managerial aspects of the accident;

(c) take appropriate action to ensure that the operator takes any necessary remedial measures; and

(d) make recommendations on future preventive measures.

(3) [F1 Following a major accident, the competent authority may, where appropriate, provide international organisations with some, or all, of the following information]—

(a) confirmation that the accident occurred in Great Britain and the name and address of the competent authority;

(b) the date, time and place of the accident, including the full name of the operator and the address of the establishment concerned;

(c) a brief description of the circumstances of the accident, including the dangerous substances involved and the immediate consequences on human health and the environment;

(d) a brief description of the emergency measures taken and immediate precautions necessary to prevent recurrence; and

(e) the results of the competent authority's analysis and recommendations.

F2 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Following a major accident the local authority in whose administrative area the accident has occurred must inform the persons likely to be affected of—

(a) the accident which has occurred; and

(b) where relevant, of the measures undertaken to mitigate its consequences.

[F3 (6) For the purposes of paragraph (3), an organisation is an international organisation if it, and its subordinate bodies, are governed by international law or it is set up by, or on the basis of, an agreement between two or more countries.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 26(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1370), regs. 1(1), 11(4)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Reg. 26(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1370), regs. 1(1), 11(4)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Reg. 26(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Health and Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1370), regs. 1(1), 11(4)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)