4 Global Webinar Series - Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 - unece
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
4
Global Webinar Series
Environment and Emergencies Preparing for and responding
in the face of COVID-19 to chemical risks:
re-starting industry
Welcoming Remarks Bob Diderich Head of the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Division Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Agenda
• Welcome
• Bob Diderich, Head of the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Division, Organisation for Economic
Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
• Opening remarks
• Franziska Hirsch, Secretary of the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents,
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Remembering Bhopal
• George Joseph, Deputy Director, Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal, India
• Industrial risk management during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Maureen Wood, Head, Major Accidents Hazards Bureau, European Commission Joint Research Centre
• Pandemic measures and chemical process safety
• Mark Hailwood, Scientific Employee, Baden-Wüttemberg State Institute for Environment
• Q&A
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020
Opening Remarks Franziska Hirsch Secretary to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention: Prevention of and preparedness for environmental emergencies Franziska Hirsch Secretary to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
UNECE Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial
Accidents
Industrial Accidents Convention
Prevention
• Adopted in 1992, entered into force in 2000 • Hazard identification/mapping
• Notification
• 41 Parties in the UNECE region, incl. EU, EFTA, Eastern and South-Eastern • Risk assessment
Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia • Siting and land-use planning
Preparedness
• Designed to protect people and the environment against industrial accidents
(with transboundary effects) • Contingency planning (on- and off-
site), harmonized across borders
• Active international cooperation between Parties Response
before, during and after an accident, including accidents • Early warning
triggered by natural hazards • Accident notification
• Mutual assistance
• Focus on transboundary cooperation
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020
Vision until 2030
Our Long-terms strategy until 2030
• Increase industrial safety and reduce the
risk of technological disasters by
ensuring its full implementation
• Legal instrument for risk reduction under
the Sendai Framework
• Supports SDG implementation
• Prevention of and preparedness for
industrial accidents through
“Initially developed for the European region transboundary cooperation, including
…, the approaches and experience [under beyond the UNECE region
the Convention] offer insights to countries
pursuing Sendai Framework commitments in
technological disaster risk management”
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Activities
Carried out as part of the Industrial Accidents Convention
• Policy forum for dialogue among
authorities, industry, academia and civil
society
• Centre of excellence for guidance
development and implementation
• Assistance and Cooperation
Programme:
• Sub-regional and national capacity
development
• Transboundary response exercises
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Prevention: Land-use Planning, siting and industrial safety
Mitigating risk, assessing vulnerabilities and exposure
Party of origin: obliged to establish policies
on siting new and modifying existing
industrial activities
Affected Party: obliged to establish policies
on developments in areas that could be
affected by transboundary effects of
industrial accidents
Steps to take:
• Risk analysis and evaluation
• Consultations and public participation
• Environmental risk assessment, incl.
transboundary effects
• Vulnerability assessment: population
density, distancing and establishing
“safety areas”
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Technological accidents triggered by
natural disasters (Natech)
Mitigating risk, assessing vulnerabilities and exposure
• OECD
• UNECE
• UNEP/OCHA Joint
Environment Unit
Prevention
(Article 6 and • EU Joint Research
Annex IV)
Centre
• GermanNatech
Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Disasters
• Example: Cyanide and heavy metal
spill into the Tisza river Basin in 2000,
in Baia Mare, Romania
• Transboundary effects: polluted
water – through Hungary -
reached the Black Sea; wiped out
fish stocks; contaminated water
supplies
• Natural and technological
hazards at the cause: Extreme
precipitation (snowfall) and fast
temperature rises caused the
tailings dam to burst, combined Cyanide spill in Baia Mare, Romania
with technical deficiencies (2000)
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Preparedness and Response
Project on Hazard and crisis management in the Danube Delta (2010–2015)
• Improved hazard and
crisis management for
industrial activities
hazardous to water - Oil
terminals in the Danube
Basin
Trilateral exercise among
• Creation of a Romania, Republic of Moldova
transboundary hazard and Ukraine, UNECE Danube
Delta Project, 2015
map
• First trilateral table-top
and field exercise in the
Danube Delta, shared
among the Republic of
Moldova, Romania and
Ukraine
“Hazard map” • Draft joint contingency
plan
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Thank you
For more information please visit:
www.unece.org/env/teia
Upcoming event:
Seminar on mine tailings safety in the UNECE region and beyond
1 December 2020, 9:30 – 12:30 CET
More information available at: http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=55197
Franziska Hirsch
Secretary to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
Franziska.Hirsch@un.orgBhopal Gas Tragedy and Lessons for Industrial Disaster Risk Reduction Dr. George V Joseph Deputy Director, Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal, MP Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Bhopal Gas Tragedy – Sad Statistics
o It happened in the night between the 2nd & 3rd December 1984, when a pesticide plant of Union Carbide
India Limited’s (UCIL) spewed about 40-45tons of highly lethal MIC gas in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
o One of the worst industrial disasters in human history
o Among people, who were exposed to the gas:
• More than 3000 people have died in the immediate aftermath.
• 558,125 injured
• 120,000 continue to suffer devastating health effects
• 7,000 animals were injured, of which about 1000 were killed.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Causes of Bhopal Disaster o The scientific reason for the accident was that water entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of MIC was stored. o When water and MIC got mixed, an exothermic chemical reaction started, producing a lot of heat. o As a result, the safety valve of the tank burst because of the increase in pressure. o It is presumed that between 20 and 30 tons of MIC were released during the hour that the leak took place. o The gas leaked from a 30 m high chimney and this height was not enough to reduce the effects of the discharge. Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Causes of Bhopal Disaster
o The high moisture content (aerosol) in the discharge when evaporating, gave rise to a heavy gas which rapidly sank to the
ground.
o A weak wind, which frequently changed direction, helped the gas to cover more area in a shorter period of time (about one
hour).
o The weak wind and the weak vertical turbulence caused a slow dilution of gas and thus allowed the poisonous gas to
spread over considerable distances.
o One of the main reasons for the tragedy was found to be a result of a combination of human factors and an incorrectly
designed safety system.
o A portion of the safety equipment at the plant had been non-operational for four months and the rest failed.
UNION CARBIDE’S VERSION
“ A disgruntled plant employee, apparently bent on spoiling a batch of methyl isocyanate, added water to a storage tank”
B. Browning Jackson (Vice President)
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Causes of Bhopal Disaster Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
The Affected Ares Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Safety Measures in UCC Plants - the USA and India o UCC plant in West Virginia was better equipped compared to the plant in Bhopal. There were several critical differences in levels of design and operations of the Bhopal and West Virginia Institute plants. Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Safety Measures in UCC plants - the USA and India Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
After effects of the disaster Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
After effects of the disaster Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Response and Rehabilitation oThe multi-dimensions of Tragedy showed that the Government had no plan. oThe official machinery itself brought victims to panic. oThe Public acted with greater control and foresight. oPrivate vehicles like trucks, rickshaws etc. were ferrying people away to safer places. oTotal absence of information and instructions as to how to react in such scenarios. o Absence of coordination for emergency support functions like search, rescue, relief etc. oNo guidelines for treatment etc. oHowever, various agencies under the district collector and other senior officers have taken up relief and rehabilitation works. http://www.bgtrrdmp.mp.gov.in/ Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Changes in the Legal and Policy matters
1. Environmental Protection Act (1986)
Stronger inspections standards and control over hazardous substances
The Manufacture, Storage and import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989
Personal Responsibility from Corporations
Ministry of Environment and Forest
The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996.
2. Air (Amendment) Act 1987: Need for Government Consent to Release pollutants.
3. Factories (Amendment) Act 1987
Safeguards in use and storage of hazardous substances
Mandatory training for worker safety.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Changes in the Legal and Policy matters 4. Hazardous Waste Rules (1989): - Govt. authorize companies as to what they can pollute with 5. Public Liability insurance Act, 1991: Insurance to cover death, injury or damage resulting from a disaster 6. Disaster Management Act, 2005 Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Guidelines on Chemical Disasters 2007 o Risks, vulnerabilities, consequences and causal factors of chemical disasters. o Handling and storage of hazardous chemicals, accident reporting, investigation and analysis checklists o Reducing the risk of chemical accidents during transportation of hazardous chemicals. o Community Preparedness has been emphasized Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Other countries
1. Responsible Care Programme 1985- Canada
• Performance measurement and reporting
• Implementation of Security Code
• Management system to achieve and verify results
• Independent certification of standards.
2. Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 1986-USA
• An annual report on all toxic hazardous chemicals released.
• List of Chemicals to Fire Dept, Emergency Responders and local govt.
• Emergency response plans to industrial accidents to local agencies.
• Accident Reporting
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Gas Leakage at LG Polymer at Vizag, India. Indications of Present status of industrial safety o A major leak from a polymer plant LG Polymers near Visakhapatnam impacted villages in a five-km radius, leaving at least 9 people dead and thousands of citizens suffering from breathlessness and other problems in an early morning mishap that raised fears of a serious industrial disaster. o The leak occurred early morning on May 7, 2020, at a private plastic making plant owned by LG Polymers Pvt Ltd, a part of South Korean conglomerate LG Corp. The chemical plant was closed due to the lockdown for a long time and attempts were made to restart the operation. During this course, some chemical activity got started in the tank and a large amount of Styrene gas was leaked in surroundings. Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Main causes o Poor design of Tank. o Inadequate refrigeration and cooling system. o Absence of circulation systems o Inadequate measurement parameters o Weak safety protocol o Poor safety awareness o Inadequate risk assessment and response Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Main causes o Poor and slackness of management o Insufficient knowledge among staff o Insufficient understanding of the chemical properties of Styrene o Total Breakdown of the Emergency Response Procedures. o Lack effective use of Emergency warning system especially for the communities residing in the nearby areas. Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Way Forward 1. Community Preparedness 2. Empowerment of Local Authorities 3. Comprehensive Risk Assessment 4. Preparation and implementation of disaster management plans 5. Conduct of Mock Drills, Training of all stakeholders Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Way Forward There is a need to have relook at the risk analysis. Now days there is a tendency to equate hazard analysis with risk analysis. The vulnerability as well as the capacity aspects are not taken into consideration. This is a major issue as such people’s awareness, preparedness, risk perception etc are not taken into consideration. Instead of just safety engineers, we need to look at the possibility of having a multi-disciplinary teams for safety who would be in a position to look after the safety of the people as well. Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Thank you Dr. George V. Joseph Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Industrial risk management during the COVID- 19 pandemic Results of the EU/OECD/UNECE survey on experiences and best practices Maureen Heraty Wood Head, Major Accident Hazards Bureau European Commission Joint Research Centre Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Why have a survey on pandemic measures and hazardous site
management?
Most industrial facilities throughout the world have had to make substantial adjustments to their
operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• They have had to reduce staff involved in certain operations, for a few weeks and sometimes much longer
• They may have had to shut down their site completely for weeks or months during a national or regional
lockdown.
• They have had to re-organise operations to ensure proper social distancing, enforce mask-wearing, etc.
• They may have experienced dramatic economic impacts, such as lower earnings due to a weakened
economy, or substantially increased activity due to increased demand due to the pandemic.
The survey aimed to obtain an overview of good risk management practice and to gain insights on:
• How industries have been coping with these changes
• How competent authorities have tried to support them
• How competent authorities perceive that the pandemic has influenced risk at hazardous sites
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Who participated in the survey?
The survey was developed by the EC Joint
Research Centre with the Technical Working
Group on Seveso Inspections (TWG 2).
Affiliations of survey respondents
Survey on pandemic measures and hazardous site risk The survey was distributed by the European
Commission to EU and EEA countries and by
OECD and UNECE to their Member States
National authorities
The survey was targeted mainly to chemical
15% hazard inspectorates and was open to any level
of government (national, regional, local).
National and
regional/localauthoriti 29 countries participated in the survey. In total
20% es there were 32 respondents (26 EU/EEA, 25
65% Regional/local OECD, and 31 UNECE Member States).
authorities
All but two participants were from the European
continent.
N = 32
The figure represents survey responses on 5/10/2020
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020What kinds of questions did the survey ask?
Questions focused on these main topics:
• Kinds of pandemic measures affecting industry in each country
• Most important challenges and priorities
• Some notable good and bad practices observed
• Interventions did the competent authorities to support hazardous sites in implementing pandemic
measures
• How hazardous site inspections have been adapted to meet pandemic challenges
• Accidents and near misses, if any, for which pandemic measures may have been a contributing factor
• Effect of the pandemic experience on future strategy for monitoring and enforcement on chemical hazard
sites
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Were some hazardous sites closed due to the pandemic and to what
extent?
Lockdown measures and hazardous site For the most part, hazardous sites were not
closure in responding jurisdictions required to shut down due to the pandemic
In most jurisdictions no hazardous sites
were required to close. Other jurisdictions
Some hazardous reported that complete shutdown was
8 sites were required required of anywhere from 2– 50% of
to close hazardous sites.
No hazardous sites
were required to It was also reported that some hazardous
24 close sites voluntarily closed all or parts of their
site, due to reduced demand.
N = 32
It was common practice for hazardous sites
to send non-essential workers home to do
The figure represents survey responses on 5/10/2020
their jobs via teleworking.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020What kinds of measures did sites implement to prevent spread of the
pandemic?
Various measures in place included:
Teleworking Limiting human contact
• Working from home • Social distancing at all times at work
• Meeting by video conference, etc. • Distribution of work by time and location;
• Limitation of business trips and public events; • Limited access of site to third parties
• Employees over 65 years of age transferred to remote • New work arrangements to minimize human contact
work • Minimizing use of contract workers
• All meals delivered
Personal protection
• Fever checks before entering the premises Safety precautions
• Use of overalls, masks and gloves • Batch process approach favored over continuous (so
• Hand hygiene. Each shift could be stopped if necessary Operations
• Airing and wet cleaning of the premises, stopped if not enough staff
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Mechanisms for delivering process safety advice
To high hazard sites during the Covid-19 pandemic
General process safety advice 14
No specific advice 14
Personal contact with sites 12
Online information on Covid industrial… 6
Letter 6
Published process safety guidance 6 N = 32
Anaytical template 2
Questionnaire 2
Dialogue with unions/industry 2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Typical process safety advice given by authorities during the Covid-19
pandemic
Representing 14 respondents
Staffing issues Safety management system issues
• Operators must assure minimum workers are present to keep • Change management processes for reduced staff were
the site running safely followed
• Operations should be stopped if not enough staff • SMS was adapted to reflect new arrangements
• Maintenance activities (e.g., continuity, staffing ) • Measures in place for also resuming normal operations post-
• Availability of professional competences for specialized tasks Covid-19
• Managing fatigue should be monitored and managed • Sites should plan for possible delays in obtaining
• Companies should plan for shut down and startup safety critical components and spare parts
• Specific guidance on planning turnarounds • Several respondents noted that reduced staffing levels
should already have been part of the SMS (e.g., in case
Compliance and enforcement of worker strike)
• Legislative requirements still should be respected • Template for evaluating the site’s pandemic response
• Discretionary enforcement. And compliance guidelines (e.g.,
administrative requirement delays, equipment certification
and lessons learned
• Operators must notify the authorities when resuming the • Site must confirm that “all necessary measures” have
activity on site been taken to prevent incidents
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Inspection protocols during the pandemic lockdown
In most jurisdictions, an exception was made to
Were inspections of high hazard sites allow physical inspections following an
accident, a serious complaint, or other critical
conducted during the pandemic lockdown? condition
No inspections* When physical inspections restarted, they often
included an inspection of pandemic measures
3
No physical but Remote inspection techniques continue to be
used in combination with physical inspections
remote inspections
11 18 in many jurisdictions even after the lockdown.
allowed*
Inspections continued Inspectorates have invested considerable
efforts to adapt their tools and strategies for
remote inspections and sometimes the
legislation.
*Number of days
< 60 ¬60 ¬90 >100 A few jurisdictions had still not restarted
physical inspections at the time of the survey
3 7 9 6 (late September 2020)
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020How have inspection approaches changed due to the pandemic?
The bullets below represent a collection of responses from various jurisdictions
Approaches
• The pandemic limited the number of inspections and some inspection cycles have been postponed to the next year.
• Routine inspections are planned in close cooperation between operators and authorities since changes/cancelation
are possible even on short notice.
• The inspections are conducted under strict implementation of hygiene measures to avoid health or infection risks to
the persons involved. These measures can also differ between different operators,
• Operators and authorities are asked to reduce the number of participants to a minimum.
• Discussions are kept short as possible
• Risk prioritization has also been extra important, and some establishments with bad performance will be prioritsed,
• No more exercises, emergency plans tests and trainings were carried out with the presence of a large number of staff
• Adaptation of strategy, schedule, materials, etc. for conducting remote, or partially remote inspections.
• A few respondents indicated that there has not been a significant change to inspection approaches in their jurisdiction
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020How have inspection of high hazard sites changed thematically due to the
pandemic?
The bullets below represent a collection of responses from various jurisdictions
Inspection themes adapted to address specific pandemic safety issues, such as:
• Questions about Covid-19 measures included, e.g., what measures were implemented, whether there were enough
staff, whether maintenance was postponed
• Inspections included review of safety management, during the pandemic, e.g., emergency planning, maintenance,
operating procedures with reduced staff, and subsequent re-commissioning or starting-up post lockdown.
• Locations shut down during the lockdown are asked about controls implemented to ensure site safety ((installations,
warehouses, substances) during its non-functioning state.
• Special attention to storage and handling conditions for specific types of substances
• Interviews include questions on staff resilience in regard to performance of safety critical tasks, resilience of
emergency plans, response arrangements etc. ,,whether the operational state is altered, if there is enough personnel
present to run the plants, etc.
• Some topics postponed because they require longer contact times (LOPA assessments for example)
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Challenges and priorities for high hazard site inspections due to the Covid-
19 pandemic
The bullets below represent a collection of responses from various jurisdictions
Everyone’s top priority
• Maintain high levels of protection on site while reducing exposure of personnel and inspectors to the risk of
contracting the virus
Challenges
• Re-organizing and adapting inspections
• Maintaining morale of he inspection staff when they could not do their jobs
• Supporting sites that were critical to the normal functioning of society and ensuring that their critical staff could keep
working (childcare, etc.)
• Testing the internal and external contingency plans in a pandemic context
• Limited inspection of the physical site
• Varying ability of some sites to correspond effectively in digital mode
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Challenges and priorities for operators due to the Covid-19 pandemic The bullets below represent a collection of responses from various jurisdictions Managing safety • Ensuring adequate supervision on site • How to handle maintenance activities, risk-based decisions (postpone or go ahead?) • Shutdown and startup, having backup plans for critical infrastructures • Adapting the SMS, management of change, e.g., to changes in staff , emergency planning, maintenance, IT security, etc. Managing staff • Protecting staff from exposure to the virus f, Ensuring that sick employees stay at home. • Managing labour shortages and surpluses, and employees working from home • Having access to specialised competences and certifications Survival • Keeping the sites open, especially sites important to society, despite reduced staff • Maintaining the installations e with respect to input and output of raw material, energy, products and waste, spare parts. • Financial and economic survival Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Good practices during Covid-19 pandemic The bullets below represent a collection of responses from various jurisdictions Main message Almost all operators have made enormous efforts to adapt quickly to the new situation and to take the necessary measures. Postponement of maintenance activities. No incidents so far caused by the pandemic measures Some examples of good practices • Good communication with authorities, sites in similar situations, etc. • Agreements between neighbouring Seveso sites on exchanging experience and support during similar incidents. • Development of quality guidelines and procedures for the Covid Situation and the Post Covid Strategy in one establishment. • Creation of safe operating programmes due to deferred maintenance turnaround., some examples of successful turnarounds. • Execution of high level management of change evaluations, stopping of production lines to review risks, etc. • Systematic approach to maintenance inlcluding d expert consultation to determine which to postpone, continue • Strict enforcement of pandemic measures, rapid adaptation of workspaces and schedules Some examples of bad practices • Few bad practices, mostly associated with poor adherence to pandemic measures Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Thank you Maureen Heraty Wood Head, Major Accident Hazards Bureau, European Commission Joint Research Centre maureen.wood@ec.europa.eu https://minerva.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/minerva
Preparing for and responding to the environmental dimensions of emergencies Mark Hailwood Scientific Employee LUBW State Institute for Environment Baden-Württemberg, Germany Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
MAHB Lessons Learnt Bulletin: Pandemic Measures & Chemical Process Safety • Why this Bulletin … • Two cases • Start-up following a pandemic shut-down • Obtaining the Lessons Learnt Bulletin Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14th October 2020
Why this Bulletin …
• The OECD Working Group on Chemical Accidents (WGCA) was approached following
the fatal accident in India in May 2020 and asked if a response could be provided.
• The Bureau of the WGCA agreed to write a note addressing this accident and issues
related to start-up following lock-down.
• The EU JRC Major Accident Hazards Bureau agreed to publish the content, as this
was the fastest way to bring attention to the issue.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Two Cases – (1)
Leak of hazardous gas from a polymer plant, Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh India 7th-8th May 2020
• A leak of hazardous gas led to the death of at least 11 people and injuries to
hundreds more. The authorities have reported that a release of gas from styrene
tanks occurred in the early hours of the morning (around 3 a.m.) on 7th May 2020.
• The polymer plant was restarting following shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Media reports and the official investigation report suggested that the styrene had
been stored for a long time.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Two Cases – (2)
Explosion at a plastics factory, Ottaviano, Italy, 5th May 2020
• An explosion at a plastics factory near Naples, Italy killed one person and injured two
others.
• The explosion occurred in the vicinity of the process ovens, destroying buildings and
burying one employee in the rubble. He was freed but died almost immediately of his
injuries.
• The local population was recommended to close doors and windows and avoid any
unnecessary movement of people. The factory reopened on 4th May after the
government eased the lockdown following the coronavirus pandemic.
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Start-up following a pandemic
shut-down
• Was shutdown carried out in an organized and systematic manner?
• Has everything remained in the same state?
• Were processes identified which required continuous operation (power, cooling,
stirring, inhibitor, nitrogen, etc.)?
• Was this maintained?
• Are all staff available for start-up?
• What has changed in working conditions?
• How have changes been assessed with regard to safety?
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Obtaining the Lessons Learnt Bulletin
EU-JRC Major Accident Hazards Bureau
Lessons Learned from Major Accidents
https://minerva.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/shorturl/minerva/lesson
s_learned_from_major_accidents
Special Issue Pandemic Measures and Chemical Process Safety
Covid-19 (en pdf / html)
(疫情应对措施和化工过程安全 (中文))
Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19
14th October 2020Thank you Mark Hailwood Scientific Employee LUBW State Institute for Environment Baden-Württemberg, Germany Mark.Hailwood@lubw.bwl.de Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14 October 2020
Q&A Session Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14 October 2020
Thank you for attending today’s webinar! The fifth webinar will take place on 25 November 2020 and will focus on enhancing the sustainability of humanitarian action. For comments and questions about the Global Webinar Series, please contact the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) at ochaunep@un.org Global Webinar Series: Environment and Emergencies in the face of COVID-19 14 October 2020
You can also read
