DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Presentation by JASBIR SINGH, INDUSTRIAL ADVISER MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPTT. OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS

Role of Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals To Formulate and Implement Policies for Growth of Chemicals & Petrochemicals. Planning, Development and Regulation of These Sectors Facilitator for growth of Indian Chemical Industry

Overview of Chemical Industry Chemical sector plays an important role in the overall development of Indian economy Turnover USD 35 billion Contributes about 3% in GDP Accounts for 17.6% in manufacturing sector Balance of trade turned to positive Export of chemicals: 13-14% of total exports Import of chemicals: 8-9% of total imports

Acts & Rules for emergency/safety preparedness, payments for relief & compensation Factories Act 1948, as amended in 1987 Environment Protection Act 1986 The Public Liability Insurance Act 1991 The National Environment Tribunal Act 1995 The Petroleum Act 1962 The Explosives Act 1884 (Amended 1993)

National Disaster Management Act The Manufacture, Storage & Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules 1989 The Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1989 Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Preparedness and Planning) Rules 1996

Disaster Management Bhopal Gas tragedy in 1984 has already sensitized the regulatory authority and the industries for the need of Chemical Disaster Management National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) was set up for building special capability for rapid intervention in case of disaster Chemical disaster is one of the important areas for disaster management

The guidelines prepared by NDMA is an important step in this direction The guidelines were prepared in consultation with various organizations and DCPC was also associated An important aspect is prevention of occurance of disasters

The guidelines provide a road map for Chemical Disaster Management at national, state and district levels The document has identified critical gaps in approaches and management Gaps in approaches are found in awareness, preparedness, capacity building, education, training, response, relief, rehabilitation

Gaps in management are found in industrial installation, storage, transport, regulation frame work, institutional frame work, infrastructure, R&D, media, finance, implementation and coordination It requires pro-active multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach to find ways and means to fill the gaps

Large no. of Major Accident Hazardous units located in the country Handling of large quantities of hazardous flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic chemicals in these units Large quantities of chemicals/solvents stored in godowns in these chemical units

- Chemical disasters generally result from - Fire - Explosion - Toxic release - Poisoning etc.

I(D&R) Act governs growth of industrial sector in the country Only IEM is Suffice to set up new/substantial expansion activity for chemical industry except following three hazardous chemicals: Hydrocyanic Acid and its derivatives Phosgene and its derivatives Isocyanates and Di- Isocyanates of Hydrocarbons IEMs carry all conditions stipulated against industrial licences.

Onsite Emergency Plans Individual Hazardous units should have emergency plans ready. Plant emergency organisation Risk evaluation/hazard analysis Lessons learnt from past accidents Sophisticated security and safety instruments such as warning alarm system, communication equipments, gas detectors, PPE etc. Fire fighting and medical facilities Training, mock drills of emergency plans

Offsite Emergency Plans Major Accident Hazardous (MAH) areas and units need to be identified Study on possible hazards involved need to be carried out in these areas SOPs need be prepared for first respondents Poison control centres and fire control stations, hospitals should be available in these areas

GIS based emergency planning and response system should be available. Awareness programmes should be organised for emergency preparedness and accident prevention Mock drills

Crisis Groups Central Crisis Group State Crisis Group District Crisis Group Local Crisis Group

Methods to control hazards Change of process: To substitute to less hazardous process Change of materials: To substitute to less hazardous materials. Change of equipments: Always to replace machinery before expiry of residual life Detailed engineering of each equipment under RCS (Requirement, Capacity, Specifications) and regular maintenance of history sheets for fault analysis

Regular testing of critical equipments/storage vessels through non-destructive testing (radiography, thickness survey, hydraulic testing etc.)

Responsible Care Chemical Industry’s global voluntary initiative for improving SHE performance Demonstrates improvement through sharing of information and rigorous system of checklists, performance indicators and verification procedures Companies are required to be transparent with stakeholders including Government, NGOs, general public

International Council of Chemical Associations oversees RC Some members of Indian Chemical Council have joined the movement More companies need to participate Voluntary movement launched by the global industry Aims at continuous self improvement in SHE performance

In vogue for the last 2 decades Practiced through seven codes of conduct viz. Process safety, Pollution Prevention, Employees Health & safety, Community awareness and emergency response, Distribution, Product stewardship and Security Distribution Code deals in safeguard in transportation, storage & distribution of hazardous chemicals.

Role of DCPC in Chemical Disaster Management No Acts/statutes relating to Chemical Disaster Management are under the purview of DCPC. However, DCPC can play pro-active role whenever required and shall associate with related organisations/Departments. One of the important areas is creation of public awareness about hazardous chemicals, their effects etc.

DCPC is already organising series of workshops in different parts of country on CWC & REACH, particularly in the areas having huge concentration of chemical industries DCPC plans to include “Disaster Management” in such workshops to create awareness in the industry circles. Appropriate technical information on chemical and disaster management should be available at all levels for ready use by local authority during an emergency.