Incident
A release of toxic liquid (containing arsenic trioxide)
from a storage tank occurred following the shutdown of a chemical plant.
The release occurred from a steam coil passing through a storage tank
used to store the solution during the shutdown. The release flowed into a
surface-drainage system,through a series of secondary catchment sumps
and ponds, into Cockburn Sound.
Cause
An investigation into the
incident has identified that the toxic liquid was released through a
hole in a gasket of a flange. The flange was located on the steam coil
pipework within the tank. It was found that the steam-line terminated
outside the bunded area in a partially-covered surface-drainage system.
Consequences
To
prevent a recurrence, all steam-lines within the plant were cut to
ensure that they terminated within the bunded area. The company has also
decommissioned the plant and will commission a new plant that does not
utilise arsenic compounds.
Source: Department of Minerals and Energy, Australia
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