Safety and emergency advice - Newton Aycliffe Site, UK

This section of the website is aimed at people who live and work near to the INEOS operations at Newton Aycliffe Site, UK.

Safety, health and the environment at Newton Aycliffe Site

Local and national regulatory authorities take a special interest in the chemical industry, developing rules and regulations to make sure that chemical manufacturing plants do not damage the health or welfare of those who live or work nearby.

In accordance with the UK’s Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Regulations, INEOS ChlorVinyls at Newton Aycliffe is dedicated to a programme of continuous reduction in its environmental impact. The site meets the requirements of the Environmental Management Standard ISO14001.

Our operations at Newton Aycliffe Site are recognised for their high standards of safety. This is demonstrated by a low accident rate; the priority safety receives in all business activities; and our response to tough safety and environmental legislation.

The production of PVC at Newton Aycliffe Site takes place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So that production can continue smoothly, INEOS ChlorVinyls is required to store a quantity of liquid vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) at the site. VCM is a gas similar in hazard to the gas used in camping stoves. Like camping gas, it is flammable and explosive. It is the storage of VCM that means the operations at Newton Aycliffe Site, like a number of other sites in the UK, are covered by the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations. As required by these regulations, a Safety Report has been approved by the Competent Authority (Health & Safety Executive and Environment Agency).

As required under COMAH Regulations, on-site arrangements are in place to deal with major accidents and to minimise their effects. An off-site Emergency Plan has been prepared in co-operation with County Durham and Darlington Civil Contingencies Unit to deal with any off-site effects of a major incident at Newton Aycliffe Site.

Important emergency advice for residents living or working near to Newton Aycliffe Site

In the unlikely event of a major emergency occurring at Newton Aycliffe Site, which could impact upon the local community, a siren will sound.

If you become aware of a serious emergency or hear the warning siren:-

1. Go indoors immediately.

2. Shut all doors and windows.

3. Stay indoors unless you are given special instructions by the emergency services.

4. If you are unable to go indoors distance yourself from the site as quickly as possible.

5. Listen to local radio for information.

6. A special Emergency Telephone Information Line, 01325 303666, exists to keep you up to date with emergency information. Please do not telephone for information on any other lines, and these must be kept available for emergency use.

When the emergency is over

The sounding of the single tone ‘All Clear’ siren means that the emergency is over and it is safe to go outside again.

Testing of the major emergency siren

Our major emergency siren is tested every Thursday at 10:45am.  This is a wailing siren (as would be sounded if a major emergency occurred on the Site) that can be heard over a wide area of Newton Aycliffe.  It is immediately followed by the single tone ‘All Clear’ siren (which would be used to indicate that the major emergency was over).

Want more information?

If you would like more information about our operations, the COMAH Regulations or our emergency plans, please contact us using the details below:

Janet Ward
INEOS ChlorVinyls
Public Relations Department
Runcorn Site HQ
South Parade
PO Box 9
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 4JE

Tel: 01928 515227 or 01928 511528
Email: janet.ward@ineos.com