HSE announce inspections of 50 farm-based AD plants

ADBA have recently met with representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to discuss a number of activities they are planning in relation to anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the near future.

The HSE team has informed us that field inspectors are planning to visit 50 farm-based AD sites to get a better understanding of the risks associated with AD and how the industry is managing them. The HSE will make contact with sites to pre-arrange a visit by the end of 2022, with inspections starting in early 2023.

The broad focus of these visits will be on:

• Management and understanding of fire and explosion risks (DSEAR)
• Process control
• Safe maintenance
• Managing contractors.

There will be particular focus on DSEAR, explosion risk and process control following some recent incidents and concern around gas and explosion safety. The HSE also want to monitor risks associated with breakdowns and maintenance where staff are completing tasks not completed in ‘normal operation’ and often at an increased risk.

We understand they intend to select a representative sample of sites across the UK, which will include biogas and biomethane to grid sites of different scale and processing a variety of feedstocks. This is following a recent program of inspections of industrial and foodwaste plants, where ~50% of plants received some form of HSE intervention; this ranges from general advise up to enforcement notices.

The HSE are very conscious of wider government agendas (e.g. Net Zero) and the part that AD and biogas generation will play in that and have highlighted that safe and well managed processes are integral to that. If you operate a farm-based AD plant you may be contacted by the HSE and should expect a site inspection.

If you require any further information or clarification, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We also strongly recommend considering signing up to the AD Certification Scheme (ADCS), which is a tool to help sites achieve better operational performance and reduced risk. The ADCS sets a best practice standard for all areas of AD plant operations and will ensure sites are being run to DSEAR compliance and at the lowest possible health and safety risk.

For more information please visit https://www.adcertificationscheme.co.uk/