An External Emergency Plan (EEP) is a plan that sets out how the emergency services, local authority and other partner organisations would work together to protect people, property, and the environment if a major accident were to occur at an Upper Tier COMAH site. The plan helps ensure that everyone involved understands their role and that arrangements are in place to respond quickly and effectively, including warning and informing the public, managing the effects of an incident, and supporting community recovery.

You may have seen on our social media channels that we regularly carry out exercises to test these emergency plans. These exercises help ensure that all responding organisations, including the emergency services, local authorities and partner agencies, are familiar with the arrangements set out in the External Emergency Plan and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Regular testing also provides an opportunity for COMAH sites and responding agencies to work together, to strengthen their collective ability to protect the public, property, and the environment. By exercising these plans, we help ensure that effective arrangements are in place and that organisations are prepared to respond swiftly and safely in the event of an incident.

To help keep these plans up to date, they are reviewed regularly. Where a new plan is developed, or a significant change to an existing plan requires public consultation, a consultation version of the document will be published on this page. This provides an opportunity for residents, businesses, and other interested parties to comment on the arrangements, helping to ensure the plan reflects local needs.