Lessons for Seveso II from Longford Australia

Abstract

On Friday, 25 September 1998, at about 12.26 in the afternoon, a vessel in the Esso Longford Gas Plant fractured releasing hydrocarbon vapours and liquid. Explosions and a fire followed. Two Esso employees were killed and eight others were injured. Supplies of natural gas to domestic and industrial users were halted for between 9-19 days. The State of Victoria, which is highly dependent on natural gas, suffered substantial disruption to the economy. The Government ordered a Royal Commission to investigate the causes of the incident and it published its final report recently (Govt Victoria, 1999). DNV acted as technical adviser.

The main lessons to be drawn from Longford relevant to Seveso II are, in the opinion of the authors, as follows:

1. Safety Management System - incomplete implementation
2. Knowledge Stewardship - insufficient on old plant
3. Management of Change - organisational change not subjected to this procedure
4. Audit and Review - opportunities to discover gaps were missed