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.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 12 months and/or an unlimited fine in Magistrates' Court in England and Wales (12-month custody powers from 18 November 2024; fines unlimited since March 2015 under LASPO 2012, s.85)
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance (opens in a new tab)

What you need to do

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.
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".
Confirm you have covered everything

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

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Primary 1974 · UK-wide Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 SI 2015 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

HSE: COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) (opens in a new tab)

HSE

GOV.UK: Fuel Duty — detailed information (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

GOV.UK: hydrocarbon oils — excise duties (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

Which coke and petroleum manufacturing regulations apply to your business

What you need to do

Set up and run a safe installation

Meet motor fuel quality and hydrocarbon oil duty

Confirm you have covered everything

Legal basis

Official guidance

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Chemical manufacturer: compliance checklist

Get the licences, permits and meet major-hazard duties for petroleum extraction