Chairman’s Report

Welcome to the new decade of 2010 and a very happy and prosperous new year to our members. Although beginning the year cautiously there are definite signs that there is now the start of an economic recovery and that the decline has slowed sufficiently to see us through a tough time.

Towards the end of December 2009 saw my attention drawn to another incident that injured two workers following a blast whilst they were working on an underground tank.

This incident occurred on a gas (service) station in Moore County, North Carolina. Two men from Charlotte based Law Petroleum Tanks Lifts and Piping, were using a power grinder on an underground tank at the Exxon Short Stop at 4936 U.S Highway 1 in the Lakeview community shortly before 7pm on 15 December 2009, when petrol (gasoline) vapour ignited and exploded, authorities said.

Slabs of concrete buckled and caved into a crater near gas pumps and rocks and other debris rained down on a state highway patrol cruiser, which was parked outside the station’s convenience store.

The explosion fireball went at least 6 metres (20 feet) into the air, the two workers receiving minor burns whilst there were 10 other people inside the shop, who were unhurt though shocked.

It does not matter what part of the world we are in, these type of incidents are occurring with an uncomfortable regularity. Is there too much pressure being applied to get remedial works done quickly by oil companies or supermarket operators? Are operatives using the correct equipment and following safety procedures? Are the safety procedures laid down adequate enough? Have all risks been assessed? This really does put routine maintenance and such repair work under the microscope.

This is one of the reasons why the Association has completely reviewed its one day training course on the UK’s Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, with the benefit of hindsight and more than 7 years of experience since these regulations have come into effect in the UK.

Therefore see the short article about revisions to the course which is worth attending to not only refresh on the regulations themselves, but on the practical application of the supporting HSE guidance and the sequence of risk assessment and enforcement. An area I assure you that deserves closer scrutiny.

Before leaving the subject of APEA training, work is concluding for the new one day course on vapour recovery which is in demand and overdue I suspect, so watch out on our website and in the next issue for release dates (excuse the pun!)

We enter 2010 on the back of a buoyant conference last year at the Ricoh Arena as we now launch APEA 2010 and we hope to match if not exceed expectation for this year. A daunting task but one thing this Association can be proud of is its ability to deliver, a feat that has been successfully achieved for 52 years now, so please look at the advert for this year’s event and commit to what is a great networking opportunity within a professional and friendly atmosphere.

I hope that readers like the idea of the new “Ask the Experts” section and encourage anyone to write in with a technical query that can be shared with the whole of the industry whether private or public sector. Certainly there seems to be a need for this as I do receive regular enquiries on all sorts of subjects so I am looking to seeing this as a regular feature.

I look forward to reading this issue and keep those articles and news items coming – I will print them!

I am off to clear my driveway of thick snow which means I am writing this report in January. Thank goodness it is only a few weeks away before I can start sowing seeds again in my modest greenhouse, which contains no gases whatsoever!

Best Wishes

Brian

Dear Mr Bourhill

Thank you!

On behalf of everyone at Erskine, I would like to thank the members of the APEA for their very generous donation of £2361.77 (including gift aid), raised at your annual conference dinner in Coventry. We are absolutely delighted that your Association has decided to show its support for the former members of our country’s Armed Forces in such a kind way.

Donations like yours allow Erskine to provide the kind of care that genuinely makes life better for our Veterans whatever their age; care that includes physiotherapy, speech & language therapy, podiatry and recreational outings and activities. Donations also pay for specialist medical equipment, such as pressure-relieving mattresses.

It is only through the thoughtful generosity of people like you and the members of APEA that Erskine is able to make life so much better for the brave men and women for whom we care. Every pound we receive plays a part in helping us to achieve this – and the contribution you have made will make a real difference to all those who depend on Erskine.

Thank you once again for helping us to give this country’s ex-Service men and women the very special care they need and deserve.

Yours sincerely Lesley Miller Head of Fundraising Erskine

I read with interest the history of pumps in the last issue of the Bulletin. I thought you might be interested in the attached photograph of an old pump which I inspected at Chapman’s Garage, Yoxford in Suffolk.

The pump is a Theo Multiple. It drew off two triple 250 gallon tanks either side of it. Some of the manholes can be seen in front of my feet and under the window. It worked by selecting which tank to draw from via a lever to the side of the pump. Then you had to select how much fuel was required on a dial on the front. This could be 1/2 gallon or 1-6 gallon quantities. Next you removed a wooden panel in the window behind and put the electrics on by pushing a big red button on the inside wall of the garage.

The glass globe at the top would fill up to more than the desired quantity and then it had to be left to drain back to the mark automatically. Dispensing was then by gravity. This photo was probably taken in the mid to late 1970's during its routine weights & measures test.

The pump still had its original 1929 stamps on it and was found still to be perfectly accurate. Mr Chapman told us that he had attended the Motor Show in 1928 and had seen this pump advertised there. He had bought it and was able to show us the original receipt and brochure.

The idea for different types of fuel from one pump is clearly quite old.

When originally installed it was used to sell 6 different makes of fuel. The idea of one site selling BP, Shell, Esso et al would not happen now let alone all of this from one pump!

The pump served the community for many years and I am told that it now resides at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

Yours sincerely

Patrick Smith

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. It is that time of year again, for membership payments and start of the next Yearbook for 2011.

2011 Yearbook

On page 49 of this issue of the Bulletin, you will find instructions on how to register for the 2011 Yearbook.

If you wish to be included in the 2011 Yearbook, please ensure you register by 1st April or your details will not be included.

You receive one free ‘Classified’ entry which is your contact details and one free entry on the ‘Trade Directories’ page. You can select additional ‘Trade Directories’ - these are charged at £26.00 plus VAT each.

Even if you do not wish to advertise in the Yearbook you need to register to be included in the Yearbook. I will record the details of everyone that has registered.

Full registration instructions are detailed on page 49 of this issue.

If you wish to advertise too, you can benefit from the following:

•All existing ‘Bulletin’ advertisers receive a 50% discount off the 2011 Yearbook rates •Any advertiser taking out a full page advert in the 2011 Yearbook is entitled to a website banner free of charge for one year, on the

APEA website, from April 2010

If you wish to advertise please contact me for a booking form or you can download one from the Publications page of the APEA website.

2010 Membership

Thanks to all of you that renewed your membership by 1st January. If you have not already done this I would be grateful if you can make your payment for 2010 as soon as possible. This will help reduce the number of reminders that I send out each year.

This can be made via the APEA website on the ‘Membership’ page, by cheque or by credit card.

Bulletin

Thank you to all of you that have contributed to this issue of The Bulletin.

Please send me any news items, press releases or articles for the June 2010 issue and I will pass them onto our Editor for approval.

We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains an interesting and informative read.

Bulletin Advertising

Thanks to all of you that renewed your advertising for the 2010 issues of the Bulletin and thanks to new advertisers too, especially in these difficult economic times.

Remember that if you book in all four issues you receive a 25% discount and we are able to offer discounts for those of you that wish to book for more than one issue but less than four issues too.

The advertising rates remain unchanged for 2010 and are listed on our website on the ‘Publications’ page at www.apea.org.uk

If you would like to book advertising in the Bulletin for 2010, please call me on 0845 603 5507 or email me at admin@apea.org.uk for a booking form.

The Blue Book is available at the discounted rate of £40 to APEA members.

If you wish to purchase a copy please contact me on 0845 603 5507 and I will be able to provide you with details on obtaining a copy.

We also publish the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can now be downloaded directly from the APEA website.

Training

Thanks to all of you that have booked on the APEA training courses.

The 2010 dates are detailed on page 62 of this issue of the Bulletin and are also on the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk where you can book online or download a booking form.

I can also arrange bespoke courses for companies, which enables members to receive training at a discounted rate and at a time and location suitable to them.

If you are interested in hosting a bespoke course for your company please do not hesitate to contact me for a quote.

We can offer discounted rates for these courses if you are able to provide a venue and catering.

You can book online from the Training page on the APEA website or you can download a booking form from our website training page, just click on the course you are interested in and the course details and form are displayed or please contact me by email or by phone and I can email you a copy.

Also anyone booking a training course now, that is not an APEA member will automatically receive membership to the APEA.

New Members

There have been 40 new members joining during October, November and December 2009 and details can be found below.

The website continues to be a useful site for information and to make online bookings and payments. I am glad so many of you are using it.

If you wish to contribute anything to the site please feel free to log on and go to the APEA Resource Centre where you can submit your article for approval.

There is a ‘Help’ pull down menu if you need some assistance. If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

You can also use the website to change your contact details, just logon and you will be able to access your record. If you cannot remember your logon details please contact me.

General Assistance

Finally if any of you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0845 603 5507 and I will endeavour to help.

Jane

Detailed below are new members that have recently joined the APEA during October, November and December 2009.

October

Adam Ruck 126 Fridaybridge Road Elm, Wisbech Cambs PE14 0AT

Catherine Connelly Argyll & Bute Council Development & Environment Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT

Nigel Whitlock Central Maintenance Solutions Ltd. Brook House Warton Lane, Grendon Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 3DT Andrew Wheble

Riegens Lighting Ltd 2 Elliot Drive Springwood industrial Estate Rayne Road, Braintree Essex CM7 2GD Kay Sterling Central Bedfordshire Council High Street North Dunstable Bedfordshire LU6 1LF

Dave Rees Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards Public Protection 1st Floor, Civic Offices Barry CF63 4RU

Lars Zimmermann Shell Deutschland Oil Suhrenkamp 71-77 Hamburg 22299 Germany

Ian Trueman Allianz Engineering Inspections Services Ltd Haslemere Road Liphook Hampshire GU30 7UN Melvyn Vance Veyance Technologies Unit 25 Robins Road Zone 3 Burntwood Business Park Burntwood Staffordshire WS73XB

Lucas Clarke Clarke Construction Services Crestacre House Barracks Lane, Walsall Wood Walsall West Midlands WS9 9DL

Glyn Jones GSS Training Limited Carrington Business Park Carrington Manchester M31 4DD

Henry Hurd Staffordshire County Council Community Services 57-60 High Street Burton Upon Trent Staffordshire DE14 1JS