What is a COMAH zone?

► A COMAH site is one that stores a sufficient quantity of dangerous substances to fall into the definition of an ‘Upper Tier’ or ‘Lower Tier’ site. ► Schedule 3 of the Regulations provides the substances and stored quantities that may qualify a site as a COMAH establishment.

What are the COMAH thresholds?

There are two thresholds for dangerous substances under COMAH. If you store or use more than the lower threshold for a dangerous substance your site is classed as a lower tier establishment. If you store or use more than the higher threshold your site is an upper tier establishment.

What does COMAH site mean?

Control of Major Accident Hazards
The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations ensuring that businesses: “Take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances. Limit the consequences to people and the environment of any major accidents which do occur”

Do I need COMAH?

The COMAH Regulations aim to prevent major accidents and, should one happen, require businesses to limit the effects on people and the environment. Additional COMAH requirements apply where businesses increase their inventories of dangerous substances above the relevant top-tier COMAH threshold.

Are there any changes to COMAH Regulations 2015?

‘Change has been kept to a minimum as far as possible in producing the COMAH Regulations 2015 to implement the Seveso III Directive. However, there are changes that operators and other stakeholders will need to familiarise themselves with.

What do you need to know about COMAH 1999?

Upper tier establishments: associated with the highest potential risks (these were referred to as top tier sites in CoMAH 1999) Lower tier establishments: associated with lower risk but are still within the scope of CoMAH

What are COMAH requirements for lower tier operators?

The simplest COMAH requirements apply to lower-tier COMAH operators. These businesses must consider the potential for a major accident arising from their work activities and describe their approach to controlling the risks in a major accident prevention policy (MAPP).

What to expect from the competent authority COMAH?

The CA leaflet Understanding COMAH: What to expect from the Competent Authority (www.hse.gov.uk/comah/guidance/understanding-comah.pdf) describes how the CA regulates the UK onshore major hazards industry in Great Britain and what businesses can expect from CA inspectors at their establishments.