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.
_____________________________________________________
* Director General, National Safety Council & Member, Core Group of NDMA for development
of National Guidelines on Chemical (Industrial) Disaster
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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 2 nd
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 highway 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.
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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
Responding
local
to
industries
road
in
an
transport
industrial
hazardous
pocket
–
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
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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
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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
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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.
communication
However
GPS
with
system
advancement
would
be
of
more
technology
suitable
of
and
convenient to use. This would require convincing the transporters
as well as the consigners about its use.
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