1. POINT LISAS PORT AND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE DISASTER RESPONSE AMMONIA SPILL

2. Ammonia Inhalation Immediate specialist medical attention required
Short Term Exposure Limit is 35 ppm for ten (10) minutes
500 ppm immediately dangerous to life and health
Severe chemical burns (mucus membrane, respiratory tract etc..) may be life threatening if not treated correctly in a timely manner

3. RESPONSIBILITIES Port Manager
Initiates response Management of incident
Alternate incident commander
OC Marine
Alternate Safety Officer
Security Manager
Safety Officer
Emergency response
Initiate relevant safety resources
Formulate rescue teams

4. RESPONSIBILITIES Officer in Charge, Marine All radio communications
Security Manager
Traffic Management
Security
Assistant Port Manager
Evacuation of all Personnel
Coordination of all vehicles for response effort
Senior Customs Officer
Assigned statutory functions

5. ORGANISATION CHART EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PLIPDECO PORT
Public Relations
Media
TTEMAS
Other
Agencies

6. The Scenario Ammonia Release - Savonetta Pier I
Date: 28 June 1996
Time: hours
Location: Loading Terminal
Activity: Loading of an Ammonia Tanker
Incident: Release of high concentration of Ammonia

7. Ammonia Release - SP I Cause:
Malfunction of the loading arm end (coupling)
Loading Rate: 1,000 tonnes per hour
Duration of Release: 5 minutes
Quantity Released: 85 tonnes
Wind direction & speed: West to East at 10 mph
Areas Affected:
Port & Estate (Plants include TTMC, Arcadian, Shell Lubricants), portion of California (residents south of Gilbert Park)

8. Ammonia Release - SP I Population at risk: 955 Port - 230
Arcadian
Shell Lubricants
TTMC II
LCL /CES
California Gov’t School
California Residents

9. Ammonia Release - SP I 10:00 Loading arm uncoupled
10:00:05 Operator at SP I, Visual observation of incident, Calibrator Alarms at Control Rm
10:00:30 Operator, Control Room SP I, sounds alarm button at Port, Incident Commander alerted
10:00:45 Control Room monitors & alerts Operator at Plant, simultaneously initiating TTEMAS Grid

10. Ammonia Release - SP I
10:01 Informs Ammonia Operator by hand radio, Port Incident Commander activates Emergency Response Team
10:04 Valve shut off at source
10:05 Lines free of NH3

11. Ammonia Release - SP I
Control Room Operator observes 3 employees on pier overcome by Ammonia inhalation
Ammonia observed to be travelling over Port heading eastwards
Observations relayed to Incident Commander (Port Manager)
Casualties taken to first stage triage point
First Aiders report to triage area
All available vehicles report to triage area

12. Ammonia Release - Communication
TTEMAS Communication Grid initiated by Operator’s radio call to NGC channel
Fire Services
Police
NEMA
Hospitals
PLIPDECO Senior Management
Key personnel at Estate Plants
Couva Regional Council
ALL MEDIA RELEASES VIA OFFICE OF PLIPDECO PRO

13. Evacuation: Land & Sea
10:04 Land Evacuation of Port commences supervised by Evacuation Coordinator
10:04 Sea Evacuation commences supervised by Senior Tug Engineer
10:04 Evacuation/safety plans of individual companies commences (Arcadian, Shell, TTMC II, CES/LCL)
Emergency Traffic Management/Control Plan
Community evacuation plan by Regional Corporation
10:13 Complete evacuation of Port and affected areas on Point Lisas Estate

14. Estate Emergency Resources
Six (6) Ambulances owned and operated by Tenants
Four (4) Tugs (2 fire fighting)
Six (6) Fire Tenders
Six (6) pickups, 2 maxis (37 person capacity)
Medical Services
Four (4) First Aid Stations
Two (2) On Call Doctors
Four (4) Nurses
Two (2) Paramedics
Forty (40) First Aiders

15. Report on Incident Failure of loading arm equipment
3 persons died instantly at SP I
12 critically injured, 5 died while awaiting treatment
Severe traffic congestion and accidents
Community not fully evacuated

16. Assessment Communication: Emergency Response (Medical):
no clear warning communicated to residents
visitors did not know how to respond to sirens/alarms
Emergency Response (Medical):
inadequate personal protective equipment
response time for medical attention inadequate
inadequate specialized medical personnel
inadequate triage equipment and facilities

17. Assessment Emergency Response (Protective Services): Evacuation
Inadequate training & equipment to handle industrial emergencies
Evacuation
Community not evacuated in a timely manner
inadequate resources & training to evacuate community
Traffic Management
Congestion at BC Roundabout affecting emergency personnel required on the Estate, as well as persons evacuated

18. Health Facility Response Comparison
10 mins
25 mins
55 mins
35 mins

19. Recommendations
Communication: installation of sirens and public address warning system for community
Develop & testing of emergency plan with Community involvement
Public education for communities on emergency response & evacuation procedures
Need for Off-site Emergency Command Centre
A Twenty Four (24) Hour Medical Facility Providing General & Emergency Care Services to Victims of Industrial Accidents

20. Recommendations
Fire station built and fully equipped to handle industrial incidents
Highly specialized HAZMAT Team available to handle industrial incidents
Adequate personnel protective equipment for employees
Preventive maintenance plan for equipment
Safety Orientation for visitors to Estate and Port
Restrict access to Estate

21. Recommendations
Emergency traffic management/control plan (removal of all traffic flow impediments BC Roundabout and island on SMR)
Periodic testing of Emergency Plans for Estate and individual Plant