#StopExploitingChildren
FEP Pond Dipping
FEP is operated by ExxonMobil and is identified as a top-tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) site by the Health & Safety Executive for processing ‘dangerous and toxic substances’ with the potential for a ‘major accident’. Yet local primary school children who are being ferried to the plant for “pond-dipping”, which is in reality a shameless PR exercise by ExxonMobil.
Media Coverage
An example of complacency
1.
Between 29th April 2019 until 31st May 2019, Fife Council allowed 328 primary school children to visit the FEP pond.
2.
During this time ExxonMobil had an ethane leak at the plant. This information was withheld from Fife Council, HSE and Parents.
3.
HSE discovered the ethane leak on May 21st 2019 and stated to the press that "ExxonMobil had failed to take all measures necessary to prevent a major accident by continuing to operate with a known gas leak"
4.
Two months later, HSE issued another notice against ExxonMobil after they had failed to take measures to reduce the risk from a firebox explosion from seven furnaces.
5.
Cllr & Fife Council co-leader David Ross publicly stated in September 2019 "We’ve looked into children visiting the site and we are assured the correct risk assessments and health and safety checks were done and that it was safe."
6.
In October 2019, HSE criticised Fife Council and ExxonMobil risk assessments for "weaknesses" and advised that pond dipping classes need to be "appropriately managed" and "ensure they have clear instructions in place for what to do in the unlikely event of major incident arising on the Comah establishment"
Parents whose children are taken on school trips to Mossmorran want, at the very minimal, reassurance in the form of risk assessments which address the exceptional dangers posed by a top-tier COMAH site.
ExxonMobil and Fife Council show a frightening level of complacency by insisting – against HSE advice – that a classroom teacher’s generic risk assessment offers children visiting Mossmorran adequate protection.
This complacency was discovered by residents, MAG and journalists after a series of FOIs emerged showing that parents, Fife Council, and HSE were kept in the dark by ExxonMobil of certain risks.
Genuine or PR stunt?
If ExxonMobil are genuine there are many beautiful places in Fife for our children to go with their schools pond dipping program where we know they will be safe.
Pond Dipping
location
The interactive image on the right provides the location for the workshops.
Mossmorran Plant which incorporates the Fife Ethylene Plant (ExxonMobil) and the Fife NGL Plant (Shell)
Fife Ethylene Plant operated by ExxonMobil
Fife NGL operated by Shell
Fife Council and ExxonMobil approved Pond Dipping workshops at a Top Tier COMAH site for primary school children.
Parents haven't been fully informed of the risks, and HSE have been critical of the risk assesments conducted by Fife Council and ExxonMobil - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-50000353
FEP is operated by ExxonMobil and is identified as a top-tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) site by the Health & Safety Executive for processing ‘dangerous and toxic substances’ with the potential for a ‘major accident’.
According to HSE, access to the site is strictly controlled. This rule does not appear to apply for local primary school children who are being ferried to the plant for “pond-dipping”, which is in reality a shameless PR exercise by ExxonMobil.
Fife Council documents warn of many potential emergency scenarios at Mossmorran including Vapour Cloud Explosions, Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Cloud Explosions, major fires with high levels of thermal radiation, asphyxiation, and the formation of large toxic clouds.
It beggars belief that parents aren’t fully informed of all the potential major accidents and risks facing their children when they attend these workshops at what is a highly toxic and potentially very dangerous site.
Fife Council recently condemned Mossmorran for the unacceptable impacts of flaring on local people and called for compensation from the operators. Yet it is happy to collude with ExxonMobil and see Fife schoolchildren exploited in its risky PR stunts.
Health & Safety Executive
Data below is provided by the Health & Safety Executive as part of the COMAH 2015 regulations.Explosion - Levels of blast overpressure which may be harmful to humans and animals and damage buildings. Projectiles travelling at high speeds may also spread from the explosion presenting a risk to people, animals and damage buildings. Explosions may also initiate fires.
Fire - Ranges from an intense fire lasting several seconds to large fires lasting several minutes or hours. Potential for fire damage to people and the environment and fires may spread to other areas, a drifting cloud of flammable gas may ignite. Fires may generate smoke clouds which may lead to breathing difficulties and deposition of soot on property and vegetation.
Liquid release - liquid flowing on-site and off-site to sewer, freshwater, estuarine waters, coastal waters, land or groundwater. Damage to people and the environment. Environmental pollution and contamination of drinking water supplies
Flammable liquids and gases
Hazardous to the aquatic environment
Petroleum products and alternative fuels
Toxic
Hazardous to the aquatic environment
Petroleum products and alternative fuels
Toxic
Fire/explosion
Flammable - gas, aerosol, liquid
Toxic if inhaled
Toxic to aquatic life
Flammable - gas, aerosol, liquid
Toxic if inhaled
Toxic to aquatic life
Accidental release of dangerous substances
Explosion
Fire
Explosion
Fire
Injuries (possibly fatal) caused by flying debris etc being ejected from the incident site.
People who are generally fit and well are unlikely to experience long-term health problems from temporary exposure to smoke from fire
Potential for burns to body (possibly life threatening)
People who are generally fit and well are unlikely to experience long-term health problems from temporary exposure to smoke from fire
Potential for burns to body (possibly life threatening)
Have you been impacted by Mossmorran?
Submit a report to our Social Impact Map
Have you suffered from the operations at Mossmorran? Has your health been affected? Do you know of any Environmental or Social impacts from Mossmorran? Submit a report to our social impact map. All responses are in confidence and not shared with any 3rd parties. Data is anonymised before being added to the map.
Resident-led action group seeking redress from the long-term social, health and environmental impacts from the Mossmorran facilities in Central Fife operated by ExxonMobil (Fife Ethylene Plant) and Shell (Fife NGL).
Contact
- 6 Ballingry Street, Lochgelly, KY5 9NW
- Mail : info@mossmorran.org.uk
Press Inquiries
- Mob.: 07749 902 934
- Tel.: 01333 720 378