Manufacturing & Engineering UK-wide

Which coke and petroleum manufacturing regulations apply to your business

Refining crude oil and making coke and other refined petroleum products is among the highest-hazard manufacturing there is, sitting inside the COMAH major-accident regime, environmental permitting and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, with fuel quality standards and excise duty on top.

Guide summary

Run your oil refinery, coke works or petroleum plant safely by following health and safety laws, the COMAH major-accident regime, environmental permits and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. You must also meet fuel quality standards for petrol and diesel, and pay excise duty to HMRC on the mineral oils you make.

  • Set up and run a safe installation under health and safety laws
  • Follow COMAH major-accident rules for high-hazard sites
  • Get and keep an environmental permit from your regulator
  • Meet UK Emissions Trading Scheme requirements
  • Meet statutory fuel-quality standards for petrol and diesel
  • Pay excise duty to HMRC on the mineral oils you make
  • Use the coke and petroleum manufacturer compliance checklist
  • HSE and the environment agency jointly enforce COMAH rules
  • Unlimited fines for serious health and safety breaches
On this page

Related guides in Health & Safety

Oil refineries, coke works and other refined-petroleum plants are among the highest-hazard sites in industry. The workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the COMAH major-accident regime, explosive-atmosphere controls and environmental permitting all apply. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates workplace and major-accident safety in Great Britain (HSENI in Northern Ireland), jointly with the environmental regulator for COMAH. On top of the operational duties, the fuels you make carry quality standards and excise duty.

What you need to do

  1. 1

    Set up and run a safe installation

    Start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe oil refinery or coke works" for your health and safety, COSHH and DSEAR controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, the COMAH major-accident regime, your environmental permit, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, insurance, equality and data protection duties.

  2. 2

    Meet motor fuel quality and hydrocarbon oil duty

    Meet the statutory fuel-quality standards for the petrol and diesel you supply, and account to HMRC for the excise duty on the mineral oils you make. Follow "Meet motor fuel quality and hydrocarbon oil duty".

  3. 3

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Finish with the coke and petroleum manufacturer compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for coke and petroleum manufacturing.