What this covers (12 activity descriptions)
  • Coal pumping station
  • Gas transport via pipelines
  • Liquids transport via pipelines
  • Offshore natural gas pipeline operation
  • Offshore oil pipeline operation
  • Oil pipeline terminal operating (for petroleum)
  • Pipeline operator
  • Pump stations operation
  • Slurry transport via pipelines
  • Transport of gases slurry via pipelines
  • Transport of water via pipelines
  • Transport via pipeline

What you must comply with

Unique to transport via pipeline

notification

Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996

HSE
Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996
Great_Britain

Pipeline operators must notify HSE before construction begins. Requires written safety management system, major accident prevention policy, and emergency procedures. HSE L82 guidance applies.

notification

COMAH 2015 (major accident hazards)

HSE
Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015
Great_Britain

Applies if pipeline transports or stores hazardous substances above COMAH thresholds. Lower-tier sites must notify. Upper-tier sites require safety report and on-site emergency plan.

permit

Environmental permit

Environmental Protection Act 1990
England

Required for emissions, discharges, or waste from pipeline operations. Separate regimes: SEPA (Scotland), NRW (Wales), DAERA (Northern Ireland).

Applies to all transport via pipeline

inspection

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

HSE
Ongoing

General duties to employees, passengers, and others. HSENI enforces in Northern Ireland.

insurance

Employers' Liability Insurance

HSE
Annual

Required for all employers. Sole traders with no employees exempt.

reporting

RIDDOR 2013 (Accident Reporting)

HSE
Ongoing

Must report deaths, specified injuries, over-7-day incapacitations, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases.

registration

UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018

ICO
Annual

Must register with ICO unless exempt. Applies to passenger data, CCTV, employee records.

inspection

Equality Act 2010 (Accessible Transport)

Ongoing

Duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled passengers. Transport-specific provisions in Part 12.

Guidance for this activity

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Insurance for goods vehicle operators

What insurance goods vehicle operators need. Covers mandatory motor fleet insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988, goods in transit cover, CMR liability for international carriage, and when to move from individual policies to a fleet policy.

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Compliance for van and light goods vehicle operators

What applies when operating vans and light goods vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. Vans do not need an operator licence but must meet motor insurance, MOT, road tax, Clean Air Zone, driving licence, and loading requirements under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

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Smart tachograph requirements and transition

Smart tachograph v2 requirements, the transition from analogue and digital units, retrofit deadlines for international and domestic vehicles, and how UK requirements have diverged from EU rules since Brexit.

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