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Module 1

Importance of disaster management


emergencies major industrial disasters

Types

of

Components of a major hazard control system identification of major hazard control installations purpose and procedures - safe operation of major
hazard installations - mitigation of consequences reporting to authorities. Implementation of major
hazard control systems - group of experts - training checklists inspection - evaluation of major hazards information to the public - manpower requirements sources of Information

Implementation of major
hazard control systems
In the implementation of major
hazard control systems, the first step
is to identify major hazards, which
has already been discussed.
The second one is the various control
systems.
There are various components of the
control system. These include:

1. Establishment of a group of experts


2. Emergency planning on site
3. Emergency planning off site
4. Siting
5. Training of factory inspectors
6. Preparation of check-lists
7. Inspection of works by factory inspectors
8. Inspection of works by specialists
9. Evaluation of major hazards
10.Actions arising from evaluation
11.Information to the public

1. Establishment of a group of experts- first


stage is likely to be setting up a group of
experts as a special unit at government level
. The unit should consist mainly of trained
engineers

(particularly

chemical

engineers), chemists and physicists


. The group should be able to advice government,
industry

management,

trade

unions,

local

authorities, factory inspectorate on all aspects


of establishing a control system.
. The group will have to set priorities in deciding
on its early work program.

The

group

inspectors

may
in

the

be

required

techniques

to
of

train

factory

major

hazard

inspection, including operational standards for such


works.
They should also be able to provide advice about
the siting of new major hazards and the use of land
nearby, e.g. for residential development
They will need to establish contacts in other
countries in order to keep up to date with major
hazard developments, including new technologies
and legislative changes

2. Emergency planning on site


3. Emergency planning off site
4. Siting: major hazard works should be separated
from people living and working outside the factory.
. Advice from the group of experts is likely to be
crucial in making progress in this area.
. Rules should be formed to avoid encroachment, so
that industrial area is demarcated from nearby areas.
. The

licenses

should

not

be

given

unless

separation distances are clearly achieved.

the

5. Training of factory inspectors-Factory inspectors

will

have

the

knowledge

that

will

enable

early

identification of major hazards to take place. Inspectors


will need appropriate training to aid them in this work
. Fellowships to visit and work with more experienced

factory inspectors in other countries have proved very


successful, but this can be expensive although generally
cost-effective.
. The group of experts will have an important part to play

in organizing training courses for inspectors, either


centrally or regionally

6. Preparation of check-lists- A check-list is one of the more

useful

tools

in

hazard

identification.

Check-lists

are

applicable to management systems in general and to a


project throughout all its stages, starting with check-lists of
the properties and process features of basic materials,
continuing with check-lists for detailed design, and finishing
with operations audit checklists.
. A check-list should be used as a final check that nothing has

been neglected.
. For check-lists to be effective, they must be used and kept up

to date

7. Inspection of works by factory inspectors-The


majority of serious incidents arise from the loss of
containment of a hazardous substance. Therefore,
it is necessary in the first instance to identify those
items of plant which contain hazardous materials
in sufficient quantity to cause a serious incident
. The role of the factory inspector as the enforcing
authority is to make sufficient checks on what
management has done to be satisfied of its
competence to operate the plant safely and to
maintain control in the event of an incident

8. Inspection of works by specialists-Specialist


inspectors will include electrical, mechanical, civil
and chemical engineers. Their role is likely to be
to provide specialist support to the generalist
factory inspector.
. Their work will include such procedures as
1. Inspecting pressure vessels for design, operation
and maintenance to approved standards
2. Checking computer-controlled chemical plant for
software integrity
3. checking the procedures for plant modifications
to maintain the initial integrity of the plant after
modification
4. checking the design and maintenance procedures
for pipelines carrying hazardous materials

9. Evaluation of major hazards - Evaluation


involves

systematic

study

for

major

accident hazard potential, including knock-on


effects, missiles, and so on. It will be a similar
exercise, although in much less detail, to that
carried

out

producing

its

inspectorate

by

the

works

management

safety

report

for

and

in

establishing

in

the

factory

an

on-site

emergency plan.
. Evaluation will include a study of all handling
operations

of

hazardous

materials,

including

transport, because it is in this general category


that major hazard accidents are most frequent

The

evaluation

should

also

look

at

the

positioning of one hazardous material in relation


to

another,

e.g.

are

potentially

explosive

substances too close to pressurised toxic gases?


Evaluation, then, involves examining the plant

and asking such questions as "What if . . . ? ", "


How likely . . . ? " and " Could it happen? ", and
deciding

on

assessment

actions

leading

from

that

10.
Actions

arising

from

evaluation-Evaluation

in

conjunction with the factory safety report provides a basis


for:
11.deciding if a new process can be licensed ;
12.deciding on the layout of a new plant or process ;
13.deciding on hardware and software control requirements,
e.g. automatic shut-off valves ;
14.formulating an on-site emergency plan and providing
information for an off-site emergency plan ;
15.deciding on the separation required between the works and
the neighbourhood ;
16.deciding

the

extent

to

which

the

public

in

the

neighbourhood should be informed about the major hazard

11.Information to the publicExperience of major accidents,


particularly those involving toxic gas
releases, has shown the importance of
the public nearby having prior warning
of:
1) how to recognise that an emergency is
occurring
2) what action they should take
3) what remedial medical treatment would
be appropriate for anyone being
affected by the gas

For inhabitants of conventional housing of


solid construction, the advice in the event
of an emergency usually is to go indoors
and close all doors and windows, switch off
all ventilation or air conditioning, and
switch on the local radio for further
instructions
For shanty dwellers, such advice may not
do good to them and hence a large scale
evacuation may be necessary.
Film shows are considered to be useful
medium for passing advice to local people.

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