NEBOSH Practice Test

What incident emphasized the need for backup systems for safety-critical devices in fuel storage operations?

1. Piper Alpha

2. Buncefield

3. Deepwater Horizon

4. Fukushima

The correct answer is: Buncefield

The Buncefield incident, which occurred in December 2005, highlighted significant issues regarding safety systems in fuel storage operations. This catastrophic event involved a massive explosion and fire at a fuel storage facility in Hertfordshire, England, resulting in extensive damage and major implications for safety practices in the industry. The Buncefield incident revealed critical weaknesses in the safety-critical devices used to monitor fuel levels and prevent overfilling. The explosion was partly attributed to the failure of the level measurement system and the lack of effective backup systems. This underscored the necessity of having robust redundancy in safety-critical devices to prevent similar catastrophic incidents, ensuring that if one system fails, a backup can effectively take over its safety functions. The findings from Buncefield led to increased scrutiny over safety practices and regulations within the fuel storage sector, compelling operators to reevaluate their risk management strategies and implement more rigorous safety measures, including backup systems. The other incidents, while significant in their contexts, did not focus primarily on backup systems for safety-critical devices in fuel storage operations.