Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
December 2025
Aim of inspection
Following the assessment of Urenco Chem Plant Ltd's 5-year COMAH safety report review. The Competent Authority identified a reliance on the wider Urenco organisation for emergency response. This relationship for a revision plan item which the competent authority decided to follow up by inspection.
The aims of the inspection is:
- To verify the veracity of current emergency arrangements for responding to a major accident pursuant of COMAH.
Subject(s) of inspection
- COMAH - Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 - Rating: Green
- Health & Safety at Work Act - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
I conducted a Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations 2015 (COMAH) inspection at Urenco UK Ltd. (UUK). The inspection sought to examine the dutyholder's arrangements for emergency response, particularly in relation to the provision of emergency equipment and interaction between tenants on the Capenhurst site. This inspection was completed by the COMAH Competent Authority (ONR/EA), assessing compliance against the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015.
The areas sampled included:
- Walkdown of the Emergency Control Centre
- Discussion relating to the major accident hazard scenarios
- SQEP arrangements for incident response roles
- Emergency Equipment and Resources
- Fire water discussion and review
- Fire fighting foam discussion
- Walkdown and demonstration of fire hydrant and water curtain.
Regulatory judgement was based on determining compliance with COMAH 2015 and the associated guidance in L111.
Conclusion
Based on the pre-inspection information and the site intervention, I judge that Urenco UK is managing emergency arrangements appropriately. There were some shortfalls identified . I have raised two Level 4 regulatory issues, any other minor shortfalls will be followed up in our Regular Level 4 engagements. I deem the evidence provided as sufficient to demonstrate compliance with Regulation 24 of the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015.
I have assigned a green rating with respect to COMAH compliance.