This paper examines the significance of spatial context for the effective management of an important source of technological risk-major industrial accident hazards. It is argued that regulatory practice has so far failed to fully recognise the importance of the spatiality of risk burdens and that, as a consequence, there has been an inadequate focusing of risk management effort and resources where they are most clearly needed. This argument is developed by drawing on an analysis of the levels of residential population within designated risk zones around a sample of major accident hazard sites in the UK, and on examples of the consequences of ignoring population proximity in the allocation of required safety measures. Having analysed the consequences of regulation to date, the prospects for change and improvement under a forthcoming revision of European legislation are examined.