The incident of old chlorine gas cylinder leak at Mumbai Port Trust raises a question. How many such ticking time bombs are still there? The Indian Gas cylinder rules are well written but I have observed that people give scant respect to gas cylinders. Domestic LPG cylinders being tossed about is one case. In the Mumbai Port Trust incident the FIR has been raised against "unknown persons". Isn't the port responsible for all hazardous cargo in its facility? I quote a NDTV news item "That is supposed to be an empty cylinder of chlorine, but sometimes you have residual chlorine which remains in the cylinder and that leaked out," explained Rahul Asthana, the Deputy Chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust.
How does one know it is empty unless it is confirmed? How did residual chlorine remain in the cylinders??
A friend of mine also points out that many chlorine cylinders are used in thermal power plants and municipal water treatment plants and that they store a large number of chlorine tonners. I am only reminded of Dr Trevor Kletz's statement " What you don't have cannot leak!"
Read the NDTV article in this link.
I too watched the speech of Mr.Rahul Asthana. Top management doesn't understand / learn the basics of process safety unless they are penalised for their negligent acts.
ReplyDeleteMr.Deepak Parekh, a well known personality of Corporate India says that "how a non-executive chairman is responsible for design flaws in a plant" referring to accusation of Mr.Kesubh Mahindra in Bhopal tragedy case.
I ask a simple question to Mr.Parekh, is non-executive chairman doesn't paid for his contributions to the board?. Is the non-executive chairman doesn't analyse the operational decisions before him in board meetings?
First of all, top brass people should be taught the basics of process safety. They simply twist the language before the media for their own benefits.