HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, RISK ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER & ROLE OF REGULATOR YUNUS TAI ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER GUJARAT POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Case of “RAYLAND FLETCHER” Judgment by BRITISH COURT known as “PRINCIPLE OF RESTRICTED LIABILITY” If any disaster occurs, PERSON will be responsible except ACT OF GOD (Natural Disaster) NOT DUE TO NEGLIGENCE IF NEIGHBOUR AGREE Case of BHOPAL GAS LEAK (1984) Judgment by Hon’ble Supreme Court by Chief Justice Shri.P.N.Bhagwati “PRINCIPLE OF ABSOLUTE LIABILITY” Leads to enactment of EPA and Public Liability Insurance Act

DEFINATIONS Hazard: Something that has the potential to cause human injury, ill health and/or damage to property (machinery and equipment) or to the environment. Risk: The probability (likelihood) of harm or damage occurring from exposure to a hazard, and the likely consequences of that harm or damage

HAZARD MANAGEMENT PROCESS Identify the hazards Assess the risks Evaluate risks Control the risks Monitor and Review

IDENTIFYING HAZARDS Safety Hazards Health Hazards Environment Hazards To identify hazards, we need to understands that hazards can be Obvious Hidden or Developing

ASSESS THE RISK WHAT IS RISK???? Injury Illness Damage Productivity Loss

FACTORS Likelihood - What is the probability of it happening? Degree of Exposure - How often would I be exposed? Consequence - If it occurs, what will happen?

RISK LEVEL Likelihood x Consequence (Severity) Hazards can be ranked with a high to low risk

LIKELYHOOD & EXPOSURE What is the likelihood of the hazard leading to an incident and possibly injury/damage? Degree of Exposure How long? How often? are you or others exposed to the hazardous situation ?

WHAT TO CONSIDER? the number of times tasks are undertaken which could result in an incident; the number of people performing the task(s); and the likelihood of the incident occurring while the task is being performed

TYPES OF HAZARD FLOODS CYCLONE DRAUGHT EARTHQUAKE SEA LEVEL RISE CHEMICAL SPILLAGE/LEAKAGE OIL SPILL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

RISK ASSESMENT METHEDOLOGY Vulnerability Assessment Institutional Appraisal Establishment of Risk Exposure Possible Mitigative Measures Information Dissemination thro’ Networking/Right To Information Act

ROLE OF REGULATOR SYSTEMATIC APPROACH Formal System v/s Informal System Technology v/s Human Attitude SHE (Safety, Health and Environment) On Site/Off Site Emergency Plan Documentation and Verification

CASE STUDY:FIRE INCIDENT AT COMMON HAZ WASTE INCINERATOR FACILITY Fire took place at waste storage area (shed:7) at 18.10 hrs. on April,3rd 2008 Message received by Authorities at 18.30 hrs First Firetender reached at 18.30 hrs GPCB with Toxicity monitoring team reached at 19.15 hrs DPMC/GNFC/ONGC/IPCL/GSFC requested for assistance 39 Firetender reached at site Foam/DCP powder used for extinguishing Fire brought under control at 21.00 hrs Fire totally extinguished at 5.30 hrs on morning

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN Drains blocked to contain contaminated hydrant water 1380 KL contaminated hydrant water sent to CETP for treatment 211 MT of waste collected from shed:7 and incinerated Contaminated water (aqueous waste) @ 99 MT collected from collection pit/drains and incinerated District Collector directed DHO for continuous monitoring for health check up of people of surrounding village GPCB/AEPS/BEIL team monitored site & surrounding areas/villages downwind collecting water/soil samples Continuous ambient air monitoring in villages/area downwind

CAUSE OF INCIDENT Pyropheric reaction that may have occurred due to presence of Iron Sulfide either present in waste/or produced on account of chemical reaction in steel drum containing sulfide Some reactive, unstable and Pyropheric wastes may get auto ignited on contact with Oxygen Excess storage of incinerable waste without considering compatibility of waste stored In sufficient space for removal of leaked drums Insufficient fire hydrant system

ACTION TAKEN Directions under Water Act-1974, Air Act-1981 ad EPA-1986 issued by GPCB Prosecution in the Court of Law under EPA-1986 Direction of Closure issued by CPCB CPCB constituted a committee to develop guideline for “limiting storage time for storage of incinerable waste in common facility” Guideline developed and put up on CPCB website

LESSON LEARNT Safety study carried out by External Expert Agency New fire hydrant line covering all storage sheds put up Construction of peripheral road around storage shades Construction of additional three storage sheds and reconstruction of storage shed:7 after clean up All storage sheds provided with smoke & heat detector system linked with peripheral water sprinkling system Re arrangement of waste stored based on its compatibility Alternative arrangement for incineration of waste at other common facilities at Baroda/Surat/Vapi Local Crisis Group (LCG) for off-site mock drill Approached NEERI to carry out study on “Post Impact of accident on Environment, Health & Property covering Safety Aspects”

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