Emergency evacuation - lessons to be learnt from the aviation industry

https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2016/10/29/aa383-chicago-767-fire-highlights-evacuation-safety-issues/

 

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Initiative by India Glycols for filling CO2 fire extinguishers

There have been a few incidents where CO2 fire extinguishers have suddenly failed due to corrosion caused by moisture in CO2, leading to the formation of carbonic acid. See the earlier post at http://indiaprocesssafety.blogspot.in/2016/05/internal-corrosion-of-gas-cylinders-and.html

Thanks to Mr M.K.Rao, Executive Director of India Glycols for sharing this news:
India Glycols has started the service of filling CO2 fire extinguishers ensuring quality of the filled cylinders to prevent mositure entry. If you are interested, you may contact their marketing department:
rk.gupta@indiaglycols.com
sandeep.sharma@indiaglycols.com


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Corrosion Induced Explosion of a High-Pressure Fire-Extinguishing Gas Cylinder

Thanks to Mr Satya Subrahmanyam DGM, EHS, Coromandel International Limited, for sending a link to the article Corrosion Induced Explosion of a High-Pressure Fire-Extinguishing Gas Cylinder in the Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention -October 2014, Volume 14,Issue 5,pp 564–568 by Yong Jiang,Jian-ming Gong,Peng-jie Tang.
 The abstract of the article mentions "The failure of a high-pressure fire-extinguishing cylinder was investigated. Failure was induced by internal surface corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) due to condensation of carbonic acid. In internal surface, especially the area near the bottom of the exploded cylinder, severe corrosion was characterized by local pits. SCC initiated from these local corrosion pits was observed by metallurgical analysis. Microstructure of the failure cylinder near the internal surface consisted of multiple-banded structure and the banded structure could accelerate local corrosion initiation and propagation. The corrosion products built up on the fracture surface were primarily ferrous carbonate (FeCO₃). The determination of moisture in fire-extinguishing gas was also examined."
Be careful of your CO2 extinguishers. Traces of moisture which can get in during refilling can cause the formation of carbonic acid and cause corrosion.


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Toxic Warehouse Fire In Maywood Out, But Evacuees Still Can't Go Home

Though this incident occurred in June, there are lessons to be learnt in emergency planning and response.

Toxic Warehouse Fire In Maywood Out, But Evacuees Still Can't Go Home: Crews are now making sure there are no lingering health risks before letting the rest of the evacuees return home.


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59% of India vulnerable to moderate to severe quakes - Times of India

 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/59-of-India-vulnerable-to-moderate-to-severe-quakes/articleshow/54436134.cms

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Bomb Squad: How Cops Safely Move Explosives

Bomb Squad: How Cops Safely Move Explosives

Interesting fact about ""Total containment

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Containing the contents - Chernobyl

The massive effort to provide a containment for the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactors is worth a read. Funded by the G7 countries along with contributions fom many countries, the USD 1.7 billion effort is to construct " A New Safe Confinement that is 110 metres high and 165 metres long, and has a span of 260 metres and a lifetime of a minimum of 100 years. When completed, the New Safe Confinement will prevent the release of contaminated material from the present shelter and at the same time protect the structure from external impacts such as extreme weather.The new structure will be an extraordinary landmark, tall enough to house London’s St Paul’s or Paris’ Notre Dame cathedrals, To minimise the risk of workers’ exposure to radiation, it has been assembled in the vicinity of the site and will be slid into position before the end of 2016.The arch-shaped structure will weigh more than 30,000 tons. Its frame is a huge lattice construction of tubular steel members, supported by two longitudinal concrete beams.It will provide a safe working environment equipped with heavy duty cranes for the future dismantling of the shelter and waste management after the completion of the NSC.It will be strong enough to withstand a tornado and its sophisticated ventilation system will eliminate the risk of corrosion, ensuring that there is no need to replace the coating and expose workers to radiation during the structure’s lifetime."

Read more about it in the EBRD website in this link.

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How 300 people escaped a fiery crash landing

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/82803886/emirates-crash-how-300-people-escaped-a-fiery-crash-landing-in-dubai

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Passive fire protection for a refinery

Passive fire protection for a refinery

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Internal corrosion of gas cylinders and fire extinguishers

Thanks to Shri M.K.Rao, Executive Director of India Glycols limited for sending the following links to articles on how internal corrosion can effect gas cylinders and CO2 fire extinguishers.

http://www.cryogas.com/pdf/SGRLink_Ngai_Cylinders.pdf

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11668-014-9851-1#page-1

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What if somebody opens a door during flight?

What if somebody opens a door during flight?


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Automatic mustering and personnel locating system

Automatic mustering and personnel locating system
Note: The above is for information purposes only

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Remote Safety Shower Monitoring Using Wireless Transmitters

 Remote Safety Shower Monitoring Using Wireless Transmitters

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Eight killed in Thai bank chemical accident

Eight killed in Thai bank chemical accident:

At least eight people were killed and seven others injured after fire suppression chemicals were accidentally released at a bank in Thailand's capital Bangkok, the media reported on Monday.
This incident has lessons for us in CPI- what is your control room fire suppression system? Do you practice drills in case the system is activated? Does the timer for evacuation allow enough time for all people to escape?


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Handling of a cyclone with high wind speeds

I was recently talking to the Unit Head and Head-EHS of a large chemical company which had safely managed a cyclone of wind speeds upto 220 KPMH. They had warning about the cyclone and had planned very well, safely shutting down the plants ahead of the cyclone. Their lessons learnt are summarised as follows:
There is no greater safeguard than pre planning to the last detail before the cyclcone hits.
You must have alternate means of communication (radio) ready
Big trees should be avoided near OHC, Fire station, emergency control centres, main entrances etc as they may fall and block access.
Access to JCB's which can be used to clear pathways is necessary.
Remember every cyclone has an eye. Once the initial phase passes, there will be a calm when the eye passes, followed again by ferocious winds, when the rest of the cyclone passes through.
Insulation damage is inevitable and a plan to restart the plant with partial insulation should be discussed and a management of change done.

The unit managed the cyclone safely without a single injury. Hats off to them!

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Plant Rebounds After Natural Disaster | Chemical Processing

Plant Rebounds After Natural Disaster | Chemical Processing

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Lessons from the Maggi Noodles relevant to process safety!

I am keenly following the current crisis in Maggi Noodles being withdrawn temporarily in many states in India due to alleged high content of lead and mono sodium glutamate. What can we learn from this episode? CRISIS MANAGEMENT!

Are you ready for crisis management in your organization?

I cannot but draw attention to the tylenol crisis in the mid 80's in USA when some tylenol tablets were contaminated with cyanide by a miscreant. The way Johnson and Johnson handled that crisis is a text book case of Crisis Management.
Read about that in this link. Be prepared!


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New eyewash shower and stations standard

 The International Safety equipment association has published a standard for eyewash showers and stations. It is a useful document. Read it by logging in this link

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Access and Accidents

The German wings plane that crashed in the Alps on Tuesday killing all onboard is being attributed to the co pilot intentionally crashing the plane, when the pilot went out of the cockpit. The pilot was not able to regain access to the cockpit as the copilot is alleged to have locked the door from inside. There is an interesting video from popular science about how the cockpit door locking arrangement works.

Coming back to our industry, more and more electronic access systems are being installed in chemical plant control rooms and hazardous chemical storages to prevent unauthorized access. But have you thought about everything including emergency response or evacuation requirements in case of malfunction of these access control systems?

See the video about how the cockpit door locking arrangement works in this link.

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Management decision during crisis

Continuing with Fukushima, a very interesting read on Fukushima and management decisions!
http://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/rebuild/en/article_09/index_03.shtml

 
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