Project Summary
Client Overview
Our client, a holiday park owner operated a range of commercial and domestic dwellings (both fixed and mobile). The client had multiple sites across the UK, which operated with Natural Gas pipework and LPG cylinders and wanted to set up their own cylinder filling operation to be used for their clients. During this exercise a complete audit of their LPG systems against legislation and standards was undertaken.
Challenge
The challenge was to help the client generate generic cylinder filling risk assessments and procedures for individual cylinder filling at customer premises (park sites) to cover UKLPG COP’s, industry guidance and relevant legislation, for example, CDG, PUWER, DSEAR. They required us to write a procedure, and training material for their staff. This included an audit of their gas systems against relevant legislation and guidance.
Solution: LPG Cylinder filling Risk Assessments and Procedures
To address the challenge, Finch used the existing procedures, risk assessments and policies to act as the basis for a gap analysis against GSMR and UKLPG COP, before assessing other policies and procedures. Risk assessments were developed for the cylinder filling process. Following the desktop audit, a list of recommended changes was discussed in meetings with the responsible person and senior management team. Once the changes had been implemented, each site was audited to assess any gaps in the application of the risk assessments for the LPG filling, as well as any equipment issues.
Steps Taken
- Initial Consultation
- Gather relevant information and procedures from the client about their LPG and gas safety and processes which were on site with the relevant personnel.
- Conduct a gap analysis/audit
- Carry out a gap analysis/audit on the existing procedures and policies to see what key actions were required for LPG and gas safety.
- Carry out the risk assessment
- Assisted with a producing the risk assessments for the LPG cylinder filling process and advised on key aspects to ensure the process was as safe as possible.
- Conduct Site Visit for audit purposes
- Explore each of the sites looking at the physical assets as well as how procedures are followed for LPG filling. This included emergency drills, maintenance and inspection regimes.
- Training for key personnel
- Finch supported the client to ensure all relevant personnel had the appropriate training for the LPG filling process and understood the risks associated with this operation as well as Gas Safety.
Outcome
The project identified multiple improvements to policies, procedures and physical assets. The risk assessments and new procedures and policies were crucial in:
- Ensuring the client is being legally compliant:
- Risk assessments completed for LPG filling and all other gas systems procedures and policies were up-to-date and the client was compliant.
- The risks are as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP):
- Carry out all the essential actions/recommendations to ensure all the risks are as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
Conclusion
By employing the gap analysis assessment and risk assessments for LPG filling, Finch Consulting enabled the clients’ facilities to gain a thorough understanding of their risks and establish a strong basis of safety for gas/LPG safety. This facilitated safer operations but also ensured they remained legally complaint under the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GSMR) and UKLPG Code of Practice (COP).