Regulatory Framework for Managing Off Site Emergencies

Dr. S.K.Sarkar Member Secretary West Bengal Pollution Control Board January 16, 2005

Legislative Framework
1. The Factories Act, 1948 [Section 41-B]

2. The Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals, Rules, 1989 [Rule 13 & Schedule 11, Rule 14 and Schedules 5 & 12]

3. The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness & Response) Rules, 1996 [Rules 5, 6,7, 8; Schedules VII & VIII and Rules 9, 10, 11 and 12]

Onsite Duties of the Occupier

Identification of major accident hazards & build capacity to onsite personnel Prevention of Major Hazards Notification of Major accident Notification of site (at least 3 month before activity) Safety Reports (at least 90 days before commissioning the activity) Updating of safety reports (modification at least 90 days before)

Offsite Emergency Plan: Scope

The Off-Site Emergency Plan covers technological emergencies arising out of industrial accidents and covers the following:

I. II.

Geographical Coverage Emergency Scenarios

Preparation of Offsite Emergency Plan

Concerned authority to prepare, update detailing how emergencies to a probable major accident on the site be dealt with. Concerned authority to consult occupier. Occupier to provide information, including nature, extent & likely effects off-site of possible major accidents Authority to provide occupier possible information for OEP relating to his duties

Offsite Emergency Plan

Authority to prepare OEP, before any new industrial activity. In the case of existing industrial activity, within 6 months of Rule 1989

Major accidents includes

An occurrence including any particular major emergencies, fire or explosions involving one or more major hazardous chemicals. Resulting from uncontrolled development of an industrial activity. Resulting due to natural events leading to serious effects both immediate or delayed, inside or outside the installation likely to cause substantial loss of life and property including adverse effects of environment.

What is an Emergency?
A disaster or emergency as defined under the Regulatory System for emergency preparedness such as:
1] Fire 2] Explosion 3] Release of toxic gases 4] Spillage of hazardous chemicals during storage, processing or transportation.

Factors Responsible for Accidents

A. Release of flammable gas, flash fire& VCE (Vapour Cloud explosion) B. BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) C. Toxic vapour release. D. Pool fires. E. Fragmentation.

The impact of off-site scenario depend on the following:

Nature of events Meteorological condition Topographic conditions Socio-economic profile Response System Characteristics

Planning FactorsLocal conditions

Size and Location Topography Surrounding Terrain Weather/Climate Land Use

Crisis Management Group Set-up

ERS is a 4-tier structure:
Central Crisis Group (Secretary MoEF) State Crisis Group (Chief Secretary ) District Crisis Group (District Magistrate) Local Crisis Group (Sub.Division Magistrate)

District Crisis Group: Functions

-assists preparation of OEP -review onsite emergency plan -monitoring continually chemical accident -Ensure information flow -forward report of chemical accident within 15 days to State crisis group -Mockdrill at a site each year & forward report of strength and weakness of the plan to the state crisis group.

Power of Members of the District Crisis Group (DCG)

Have Power under section 10 of the Environment Protection Act 1986

Information disclosure by crisis group

- On request, state crisis group shall provide information regarding chemical accident prevention, preparedness and mitigation to the public in the state -On request, local crisis group to provide information regarding probable chemical accident at a site etc to public -Local crisis group shall assist the MAH installations in taking steps to inform persons likely to be effected by a chemical accident

DCG : Chain of Command

District Emergency Authority (DEA)

Emergency Control Room (ECR)

Incident Command System (ICS)

Support Services

Fire & Rescue

Medical (Nodal Hospital)

Police

DCG : Incident Command System

Incident Commander (Fire Station Incharge of the affected industrial unit)_

Nodal Response Agencies Technical Response

Support Services

Fire Station of the affected unit

Medical (Nodal Hospital)

Fire Station

Industrial FireStation

Technical Experts

Technical Team

Industrial Hospitals

Government Hospitals

Private Hospitals

Laboratories

DCG: Tasks of Incident Commander

Earmark the zones, i.e., Hot, Warm and Cool in order to decide the response and use of appropriate PPE. Assess the extent of emergency and the resources required. Communicate the same to the ECR to enable it to organise the same. Plan the response. Take appropriate actions to mitigate the emergency and to restore normalcy. Ensure use of proper PPE. Co-ordinate the response at the ICP. Interact with the ECR.

DCG: Tasks of Team Members

Rescue any injured or trapped persons. Give priority to saving life and preventing further injury. Extinguish / Control fire. Conduct decontamination or containment as long as needed. Remain on the scene as long as needed, without taking undue personal risk.

DCG: Equipment and Facilities in the Emergency Control Room

Internal and external telephones Wireless communication Public address (PA.) system. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) A copy of the Off-Site Emergency Other reference documents, including a set of Tremcards, MSDS and the on-site emergency plans of all MAH units in the district. Detailed map of the area, including the surrounding areas. Telephone numbers of response agencies, technical experts and other key personnel.

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

ERP: Objectives
In order to be in a State of readiness to handle any adverse effects of chemical emergency, occupier of industrial installation & District collector are required to prepare EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (ERP).

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ERP includes:1. Identification of facilities & transport routes. 2. Emergency response procedures, evacuation plans, etc. 3. Notification Procedures. 4. Determination of occurrence and severity of a release. 5. Emergency equipment. 6. Training local emergency teams including medical workers. 7. Mock Drills. 8. Co-ordination to carry out emergency plan.

ERP based on Maximum Credible Accident (MCA) Analysis

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Identified Major Hazard Industries / Activities. Identified Hazard Characteristics and MCA Scenarios. Identified off-site scenarios and areas of exposures. Flash fire and vapour cloud explosion hazards. BLEVE Hazards. Toxic hazards. Pool fire hazards. Fragmentation hazards.

Public Awareness & Communication System.

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Mock Drill
ERP effectiveness & preparedness is tested periodically by conducting mock drills. Haldia mockdrill experts shows constraints: Road accessibilities, railway crossing Road manufacturer Congestion of roads Lack of burn center in hospital

Major Accidents in West Bengal

Chemical leakage in Hindustan Heavy Chemicals in 1995 Stored chemical leakage at East Anglia Plastics in Lake town in August 1999 Fire broke out at IOC Terminal in Rajbandh, Durgapur in June 2004 Chlorine leakage in Durgapur Chemicals Ltd. in 2004

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Offsite Emergency Plan

In the State of West Bengal: Area Durgapur Status completed and Available with DM , updation required Haldia work entrusted to National Safety Council Budge Budge Report submitted by CMRI

Offsite Emergency Plan : way forward

- Completion of OEP - Upgradation - Capacity Building, Awareness - Implementation of lessons out of mockdrill - Coordination meeting of crisis group at various levels

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T H A N K Y O U

Please visit our office

T H A N K Y O

West Bengal Pollution Control Board

10A, Block - LA, Sector - III, Salt Lake City Kolkata - 700 098, West Bengal, India

Website: www.wbpcb.gov.in www.wbpcb.gov.in Email: wbpcbnet@wbpcb.gov.in wbpcbnet@wbpcb. gov.in

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