Workshop on Transportation of Dangerous Goods
October 18, 2001, New Delhi

Presentation on Emergency Response by Mr A K Dasgupta, Director, Deepak Nitrite Ltd.

Intoduction :

• Industrial revolution in the country during past 30 years. Because of the availability of petroleum and natural gas in western part of our country, rapid development of industries - particularly chemical industries - has taken place, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Number of large scale units have come up - like Refineries, Petrochemical Complexes, Fertilizer Projects, Caustic Chlorine Plants etc. Large number of medium and small scale industries have also come up because of these large units.
• These industries are manufacturing and handling large number of hazardous chemicals, dangerous chemicals - like ammonia, nitric acid, acrylonitrile, butadine, sodium cyanide etc. - are produced and transported in large scale. Various petroleum products - including crude oil, naphtha, LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel etc. - are stored, handled and transported in large quantity.
• Raw material and products of all such industries are transported in large quantity by trucks and tankers. Nearly 200 tankers of petrol and diesel operate daily in the highway passing through or near Baroda. About 150 tankers carrying other petroleum products are also moved daily on the road. Nearly 150 tankers of LPG operate on the road net work of Baroda District. Nearly 100 ankers carrying caustic soda, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid etc. move on the road inside and outside the city. Approximately 150 chlorine tonners are also transported daily from the large caustic chlorine plant of GACL. Apart from transportation of these hazardous substances by road, hundreds of tonnes of highly inflammable petroleum products and other hazardous materials, like Ammonia, Ammonium Nitrate, Sodium Cyanide, C4 Raffinate etc., are transported daily by rail and road tankers.

Necessity of Emergency Response System :

• Leakage and spillage of hazardous material during transportation.
  
• Collision / accident during transportation by road.
  
• Derailment of wagons or tank wagons.
  
• Auto-ignition of hazardous material / explosion during transportation - development of static electricity etc.
  
• Toppling of trucks and road tankers - overloading, negotiating road curves at a higher speed.
  
• Unsafe practice during road transport - creating flame, trying to pilfer hazardous substance etc.
  
• Improper maintenance and testing of safety gears, like safety valves etc.
  

Some Incidences of Accident During Transportation :

Source : UNEP compilation, Manual on Emergency Preparedness, Ministry of E&F, Govt. of
India.

Steps for prevention/ Minimisation of accident during transportation :

• Educating the Drivers, Cleaners of trucks / tankers.
  
• Awareness amongst the general public through TV, media, social programmes.
  
• Display of dangerous properties of goods being transported.
  
• Remedial measures for accidental exposure.
  
• Quick and efficient information system.
  
• Preparedness - Before, during and after accidents.
  

Emergency Response System :

In spite of all the precautionary measures, accident may occur. In order to minimise the damage due to hazard created during handling and transportation of dangerous material, Government has enacted several Rules and formulated Policies for National level, State level and local level emergency centres have been prescribed. Some such measures are noted below :-

a) Major Constituent Units of Disaster Management Group (Annexure I)

b) Organogram of Central Control Room (Annexure II)

c) Satellite Control Rooms (Annexure III)

d) Government Agencies - Village Panchayats (Annexure IV)

Annexure I
Major Constituent Units of Disaster Management Group

Annexure III
Satellite Control Rooms recommended in Petrochemical Complex Area

Annexure IV
Government Agencies & Village Panchayats in Petrochemical Complex
Government Authorities :

Village Panchayats :

Note:

CCR shall make communication to only one place (identified as a Satellite Control Room) of the constituents organisation. It shall be the responsibility of the Satellite Control Room to further inform any desired authority/agency within that organisation or its township.

Emergency Response and Communication Services :

SGS India Ltd.
(Societe Generale de Surveillance, Switzerland)

Some novel methods of accident prevention - "DETO-STOP" - are prescribed below :-

a) What is DETO-STOP? (Slide 1)

b) Technical specification of DETO-STOP (Slide 2)

c) Tanker trucks and tank wagons (Slide 3)

d) Testing and acceptance (Slide 4)

Mock Drill and Practise :

• Regular mock trial involving public as much as possible.
  
• To observe the shortcomings of existing emergency response system, handling of emergency, evacuation, medical facilities etc., and take remedial measures.
  
• Close cooperation between the District authorities, Collectorate, Police, Fire Brigade, Industries and public.
  

Conclusion :

• During last two decades, hazard due to transportation of dangerous materials by road, railways and by seal routes have increased tremendously.
  
• General public is more concerned about the hazardous during transportation by road, particularly through city and congested areas.
  
• Presently there is some awareness among the statutory authorities and public in general to minimise the impact of accident.
  
• More awareness, better communication and better facilities for handling emergencies must be available.
  
• For this, close cooperation between the Government Authorities, industries, NGOs and public at large is necessary.