1 Introduction

This policy is designed to assist the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority to inspect audit and give advice to sites storing agricultural substances

 2. Policy

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will carry out inspection and audit of sites under The Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites (NAMOS)) Regulations 1990 to ensure that the Fire Authority is informed of sites containing dangerous substances with total quantities of 25 tonnes or more, or where storage of substances containing 150 tonnes or more of ‘relevant ammonium nitrate mixtures’ which is defined as ammonium nitrate and mixtures containing ammonium nitrate, where the nitrogen content exceeds 15.75% of the mixture by weight.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will carry out inspection and audit of sites participating in The British Agrochemical Inspection Scheme Limited (BASIS) which is an independent organisation set up to assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage, transport and competence of staff.

If the BASIS assessor has assessed the premises as high-risk the relevant Fire & Rescue Service will be advised of the assessment finding and a visit by a Fire Authority inspecting officer requested.  The high-risk criteria will be allocated by the BASIS assessor according to the quantities and type of storage. Each high-risk premises will be inspected by BASIS annually and a report requested from the fire and rescue service once every five years, (as long as it remains in the high-risk category).

The North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will ensure as far as practicable that specified warning signs required under the regulations are in place at sites and information is gathered, as part of the Site Specific Risk Information (SSRI) procedure, to minimise the risks to its employees the public and the environment.

published to this website 28 June 2024