Health Surveillance Update and Questions and Answers

A multi agency Steering Group has been set up to review and monitor any health effects following the Buncefield fire. This group has representatives from many of the organisations involved in assessing and providing advice directly following the fire, including the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Dacorum and Watford and Three Rivers Primary Care Trusts. This group agreed early in January that a number of different areas of work would be taken forward:

 

1. Risk Assessment evaluation; the first major risk assessment was undertaken when the fire occurred. It concluded that there was negligible environmental risk from the plume. This assessment will be reviewed in February once all the environmental data has been analysed.
2. Case note review: Records from Watford and Hemel Hempstead A&E departments have been reviewed to identify individuals who presented with health issues related to the fire. Preliminary results from the review are expected by March.
3. Occupational Health register: A questionnaire has been developed for the Occupational Health departments of those services who were involved in responding to the fire. This will include fire and rescue services, ambulance services, local authority staff, police departments and those involved in caring for casualties, construction and engineering work and environmental sampling.
4. Concerns among the public: To determine any ongoing concerns within the general population a postal questionnaire has been sent to a random sample of 5000 residents of Dacorum PCT and Watford and Three Rivers PCT, including all those evacuated. This questionnaire was sent out at the end of January and preliminary results are expected in April.
5. Exposure Assessment modelling: A detailed analysis of all exposure data will be done in order to help organisations conduct similar assessments in the future. This is expected to take several months.

 

The Steering Group have agreed that the evidence so far suggests it is highly unlikely that there were any health problems as a result of the smoke plume. However there may be some public concerns about any possible effects and it is important to identify these. Experience from major incidents in New York , Madrid and the Netherlands as well as the UK has demonstrated the value of assessing the health impact on the population.

 

• Why are the HPA and PCTs monitoring the health effects of the Buncefield fire if the risk was negligible?

An assessment of the health impact of the Buncefield fire is an appropriate part of the public health response to the management of the incident. This includes reviewing whether the risk assessment made at the peak of the crisis should be revised now further information has been collected, and needs to identify any health concerns the public may have. These concerns may be around the risk to health from smoke, contamination of the general environment (including soil, and exposure to debris) and other fallout from the smoke plume, as well as living or working under the smoke plume. Preliminary results from this public survey are expected to be available in April.

 

• How many people will be included in the various surveys and questionnaires?

Case note review. Approximately 1600 casualty records have been reviewed to check any health effects linked to the Buncefield fire

Occupational Health register: Available through occupational health departments to all those whose employment led to them dealing with the fire in any way.

Concerns among the public: 5000 questionnaires have been sent out to:

• those 500 within 1k of the site who were evacuated
• A random sample of
• • 1000 residents north of the fire in Dacorum PCT
  • 2000 residents south of the fire in Dacorum PCT
  • 1500 residents in Watford and Three Rivers PCT

 

• What kinds of illnesses are the health organisations looking for?

A broad range of possible health effects from exposure to the fire are being checked It is normal that individuals involved in an incident of this type experience psychological reactions. Most of these resolve with time as the individual recovers and returns to their normal life routine. If symptoms persist, individuals should contact their GPs.

 

• What will happen to the results of the health monitoring?

The findings from this work will be made public through press releases when the results are available. Advice on how to seek help on any health conditions identified as a result of the monitoring will also be provided.

 

• How soon will any long-term effects of the fire become apparent in the local population and staff who worked at the site?

If no symptoms, such as coughing or a tight chest, were experienced at the time of the exposure it is very unlikely that there will any long term effects. For a single exposure of this type the increase in risk of developing any long-term effects is assessed as being very small relative to risks experienced in normal life.

 

• What should I do if I think my health has been affected by the fire, can I fill in one of the questionnaires?

The postal questionnaire has been distributed to random sample of the population, therefore it is not possible for other individuals to fill one in as this would bias the results. If you are concerned about your health please contact your GP.

 

• Is the risk to older people and young children greater?

It is highly unlikely that there were any health problems in any population groups, however data gathered from the public survey will enable us to assess this.

 

• Should schools and nurseries be closed in the surrounding areas of Buncefield until the results of the monitoring is completed?

The decision to close schools immediately following the incident was based on the information available about potential risk and on logistical issues. All the subsequent data has supported the decision to re-open schools.

 

• Is there any risk to unborn children and are there any actions pregnant women need to take?

Current information based on environmental and health monitoring suggests that there should be no adverse health effects in the local population, including pregnant women and their unborn child.

Last reviewed: 2 December 2008