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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Crisis Groups Central Crisis Group State Crisis Group
District Crisis Group
Local Crisis Group

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.