Bunded Oil Tank Risk Assessment

Bunded oil tanks are tanks that have been designed for containing oil such as heating oil for your home. The term ‘bunded’ refers to the ‘double skin’ on a tank, giving an extra layer of protection to both the oil inside the tank and the area around it. Bunded oil tanks are usually made of plastic or steel. They are the safest and securest way to store your oil for domestic or commercial customers.

There are specific circumstances when the law advises you to choose to get a bunded oil tank as opposed to a single-skin tank. Situations such as the amount of oil that you are looking to store and the location of the tank in relation to watercourses can affect whether you must use a bunded oil tank or not.

Oil can be dangerous if it escapes from the tank, not only because it could present a fire risk, but also because it can be very damaging to the area around it – especially if it gets into the waterways. It is useful, therefore that a bunded oil tank risk assessment is carried out, to help to identify the risks and put measures in place that would mitigate them. By cutting down the probability of damage, a spill, or fire, everybody and the local environment are much safer.

Bunded oil tank risk assessments should be carried out by a qualified professional and should be done whenever a bunded oil tank is installed on the premises to ensure safety.

What is a Bunded Oil Tank Risk Assessment?

A bunded oil tank risk assessment involves looking at a range of different aspects of the installation of a bunded oil tank, with the aim of identifying potential risks and putting measures in place to try to prevent them from happening.

Several different factors are investigated in the risk assessment, including a review of the site where the tank will be stored, an investigation into the potential risks of the oil tank, and identifying the measures that can be put in place to reduce the risks.

Any tank that holds oil is a potential risk, and therefore, a bunded oil tank risk assessment should be carried out regardless of the size of the tank or situation that you are in – and whether it is on a domestic or commercial property. It is, however, not always a legal requirement.

There are differing rules relating to the legal necessity to carry out a bunded oil tank risk assessment, depending on aspects such as the location of the bunded oil tank, and the type of business that you run if it is a commercial property. If you work in construction, manufacturing, or construction, for example, a bunded oil tank risk assessment is a legal requirement as it can bring a heightened risk of damage.

You should also bear in mind that locations and situations change over time. For this reason, you should be carrying out your bunded oil tank risk assessment all the time, as places and conditions change – even if it is just in your head. Try to always consider the implications of what you are doing, on the oil tank and the potential safety risks that may occur.

It is worth keeping in mind that if an oil spill happens, you are required to fill out an oil spill response plan, that will show how you are reducing the potential for damage to the local area. You might need to show what you have done to mitigate the risk of an oil spill at this time.

In the UK, the government has strict rules relating to the storage of oil if you are storing over 200 litres of oil, and it is important that you adhere to these regulations. You can contact your local environmental authority for more information about your legal responsibilities with regard to your bunded oil tank.

What Bunded Oil Tank Risks Are Assessed?

When you are storing large amounts of oil in a bunded oil tank, there are several different risks present. These include:

• The risk of flooding
• The risk of spillage
• The potential for fire
• The risk of leakage
• The chance of explosions

A risk assessment is in place to reduce these risks. Some of the factors that are investigated during the process include:

• A review of the area where the tank is to be stored with a view of its fire risk and the location’s proximity to boundaries and buildings
• A review of the environmental hazards that present themselves in the area where the tank is to be stored, including the presence and geographical location of water sources
• Investigations into how the tank will be used
• Any other potential hazards and risks that are present
• The development of measures that can be put in place to mitigate the risks identified

Such measures could include, for example, the use of fire-resistant bunded oil tanks, which add an extra layer of protection of the oil from fire.

When Should an Oil Tank Risk Assessment be Done?

Whenever you want to store an oil tank on-site, you should be thinking about safety – whether it is a written risk assessment or not. It is essential that you do what you can to ensure that the oil is well-protected from hazards such as fire and spillage.

It is recommended that regardless of your situation, a bunded oil tank risk assessment is carried out whenever you are installing a bunded oil tank. It is better to be safe than sorry, after all!

However, there are some circumstances when it is a legal requirement to have one carried out by a qualified professional – if you are a construction, manufacturing, or transport business, for example.

Who Completes the Risk Assessment?

If you need to have a bunded oil tank risk assessment to be carried out, it is important that you use a qualified technician to do it. The fuel storage tank technician must be registered with OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association), and you can find them via the OFTEC website.