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Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on June 23, 2007
Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm036
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© The Author 2007, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Health impact of the Buncefield oil depot fire, December 2005

Study of accident and emergency case records


M. R. Hoek, Fellow of the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET)1,2,
S. Bracebridge, Regional Epidemiologist3
I. Oliver, Regional Epidemiologist2

1 EPIET, European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training, The Wheelhouse, Bond's Mill, Stonehouse GLOS GL10 3RF, UK
2 Health Protection Agency, South West, The Wheelhouse, Bond's Mill, Stonehouse Gloucestershire GL10 3RF, UK
3 Health Protection Agency, East of England, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2DF, UK


Address correspondence to M. R. Hoek, E-mail: maarten.hoek{at}hpa.org.uk/ hoekmr{at}gmail.com


  Abstract

Background On Sunday 11th of December 2005, an explosion occurred at the Buncefield oil depot, Hertfordshire, resulting in a large fire that blazed for several days. Two Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments were placed on stand-by to receive casualties. A simple surveillance system was put in place during the acute phase of the incident, but this was not adequate to fully examine the health impact of the fire.

Methods Retrospective study of A&E records at Hemel Hempstead and Watford A&E departments for the period that the fire burnt.

Results Two hundred and forty-four people attended A&E as a result of the fire: 187 were members of the emergency services; 17 were oil depot workers; and 40 were members of the public. The most common presenting complaints were respiratory symptoms (n = 66) and injuries (n = 38). Twenty-five (21%) individuals were referred for medical follow-up. There were no fatalities.

Conclusion There was a significant impact on local health services, with many emergency service personnel attending A&E asymptomatically. Alternative health service provision for these individuals, possibly near to the scene of the incident, should be considered. This incident has also highlighted an urgent need to develop surveillance systems that enable real-time monitoring of the acute public health impact of major incidents.

Keywords: emergency situations, public health, surveillance


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