Conference on

“ Chemical (Industrial) Disaster Management, Pipelines, Storages, & Medical Preparedness

(February 11-13, 2009) at FICCI, New Delhi

Session : National Guidelines and Statutory Framework

Presentation on: “SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS GOODS”

K. C. Gupta*

1.  Introduction

We are very happy that NDMA has brought out the National Guidelines on Chemical Disaster Management and released at Delhi in May, 2007, thereafter in Mumbai, Goa and Ahmedabad. NSC contributed in developing them as its Core Group Member sharing its experience in this field for last 17 years.

The guidelines include a separate topic on “Guidelines for Transport Accidents”. It covers recommendations on transportation and those for MAH Units, Transporters, Drivers, Authorities etc. It further provides guidelines for disaster management plan, Traffic, police training, HAZMAT Vans, Emergency Response Guidebook and transportation by pipelines.

I don’t propose to repeat the points covered in the National Guidelines which are widely published but focus on some achievements and initiatives which I feel can be further strengthened and emulated at the national level.

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* Director General, National Safety Council & Member, Core Group of NDMA for development
of National Guidelines on Chemical (Industrial) Disaster

2.  Achievements

2.1  Explosion of a Fuel Tanker in Kenya kills over 100 persons

I want to draw your attention to the news item appeared on 2nd February. On 31st January, near Molo in Kenya a gasoline tanker overturned and exploded killing 111 people (which was expected to rise as expressed by the Kenya Red Cross), wounding 200 and the blast was felt for miles. This was when hundreds of people were trying to scoop up free fuel.

A similar scenario took place on 22nd January, 1991 on a national high-way No.8 at Mendhwan in Palghar Taluka in Thane District in Maharashtra when 96 persons died 31 on the spot and 65 later and 117 injured when hundreds of people tried to collect petrol from an overturned truck. That is 18 years back we had the similar level of awareness in the public about the hazards of gasoline. After that a few more incidents had taken place in other states also. It was this incident that triggered setting up of a committee under the Chairmanship of Transport Commissioner which led to amendments in the Maharashtra Transport Rules and then in Central Motor Vehicles Rules. During these 18 years awareness in the public has increase due to regulatory and non-regulatory measures taken by enforcement agencies, transporters, industries, and professional institutions and now we do not find people are tempted to collect such free fuels from overturned tankers.

2.2  Gas Tanker overturns and the Driver of overturned gas tanker summons fire tenders

A tanker of Reliance Petro-Chemical (RPC) was carrying propane gas overturned on Panvel-Raigad road near Nagothane in Maharashtra. The driver immediately summoned fire tenders and Raigad Police rushed to the spot to take control of the traffic. Driver of vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals for consignments originated from large MAH units are well trained regarding their roles and responsibilities in case of transport mishaps involving hazardous chemicals. This incident proves that the trained driver can mitigate the consequences effectively, although this may not be a case with all such drivers and not with small manufacturers. In fact in the past the driver was absconding for fear of the police. This definitely indicates progress. However in the same incident the accident took place as the same driver lost the balance of the vehicle when he was trying to overtake a Ratnagiri bound oil tanker. Here is a dichotomy of the driver of human behaviour. Even when he was trained and knew that such overtaking is dangerous he tempted resulting in an accident. Issue arises here is of refresher training with case studies like this.

3.  Local Initiatives

3.1 Initiative of local industries in an industrial pocket –
Responding to road transport hazardous chemical
emergencies

NSC has published a case study of an initiative of industries in an industrial pocket of Patalganga in Maharashtra. Four of the 11 MAH units viz. HOC, Reliance, Hindustan Insecticides and Bombay Dyeing are jointly operating this system in a radius of 20 kms and at times beyond.The effort is to provide immediate technical response through a well equipped HAZardous MATerial Van (HAZMAT VAN) carrying technical persons for a vehicle met with an accident so that the basic technical root problem of leakage of the hazardous chemical from the vehicle is effectively dealt with minimizing loss of time. This HAZMAT VAN is a 10-seater vehicle which can carry a team of technicians, equipments & tools. It started in 1996 and still working well. We had recommended that this initiative should be replicated in other industrial pockets. Before this presentation we have reconfirmed that this initiative is working well. Last year it attended about 29 such calls involving 14 chemicals.

Such local-level initiative by industries which can be sustained over years for 13 years should be replicated in other industrial pockets. This is the need of the day.

3.2  Initiative related to Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Another local level initiative which has been studied, analysed and published at the national level by NSC relates to EMS by the Lokamanya Medical Foundation in Pune. This is operational since 1996. It covers Mumbai-Pune Express-way and High-ways of Panvel-Satara, Pune-Khed and Pimpri-Chinchwad accounting to 600 kms. Presently it has 18 Mobile Trauma & Critical Care Units, 4 rapid rescue units and 3 hydra-cranes. Till November, 2008 they have rescued 22,787 unfortunate and unknown road accident victims. It has health care infra-structure of hospitals with doctors, para-medical staff, operators, ambulances (MTCCUs) equipped with life saving drugs and equipment and medicines. There is joint funding from MoEF, Maharashtra State Govt and their own. We have very strongly supported this initiative by providing technical inputs and MoU for training on transportation.

3.3 Driver Training Initiative by Transporters

NSC encouraged by providing technical support to the transporters of vehicles of hazardous chemicals to take initiative in setting up Trium Institute of Logistic Management in 2004. Last 3 years they have trained 1583 drivers on road safety & health issues. This is the only institute in the private sector that organizes training for truck drivers and recognized by the Govt. of Maharashtra and Ministry of Transport. They have also networked with some institutions so that the programme of training that they have undertaken gets further strengthened.

We are proud that this initiative has succeeded despite constraints because it is taken by the industry which is directly affected. NSC played a key role in motivating the transporters through a series of seminars jointly with Reliance, HPCL, BPCL etc.. as a part of NSC’s Road Safety Initiative in transportation of hazardous materials.

4.  Issues

i)  Multiplying above Initiatives

As mentioned above, the initiatives mentioned above would help in bringing a positive change in the scenario of preventing accidents arising out of transportation of hazardous chemicals by road.

ii)  Strengthening response capabilities of basic infra-structure

It is burning issue that the infra-structure in the response agencies such as hospitals, police and fire brigade in terms of staffing, equipment and training on major transportation routes is strengthened.

iii)  National Focus on Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals

As per the findings of the survey project of the MoEF, overall status of Road Safety or rate of road accidents has deteriorated seriously but the rate of accidents involving hazardous chemical tankers has not increased. There is a dire need to focus attention of all the stake holders on transportation of hazardous material

iv)  Improving Awareness level of helpers

It is also a finding in the Report of a survey conducted by the MoEF that awareness of hazardous nature of chemicals is quite low among the helpers. This is one of the issues to be tackled.

v)  Maintenance of vehicles carrying hazardous material

One of the major reasons for the accident of a vehicle carrying hazardous substance is the condition of the vehicle. Ow this can It is an issue to be addressed as to how this can be tackled.

vi)  Developing National Chemical Tanker Registry

A more detailed study combining hazardous chemicals statistics culminating in national data (National Chemical Tanker Registry) required to be initiated.

vii) Serious Attention of District Disastyer Management
Authority on Transportation of Hazardous chemicals

It is high time that Management of transportation of Hazardous chemicals be taken up by the Disaster Management Cell of the respective district.

viii)Fitting of GPS based equipment to the vehicle

The statute prescribes compulsory use of tachograph to the vehicle. It helps in tracing the vehicle in case of an accident as well as it provides the information of utilization of the time of the vehicle from start to the point of destination or the accident, if it takes place. However with advancement of technology of communication GPS system would be more suitable and convenient to use. This would require convincing the transporters as well as the consigners about its use.

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