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Door of the LG Polymers plant in Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam
NEW DELHI: Following a gas leak at a factory in Visakhapatnam, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued detailed guidelines for restarting industries after closure and precautions to be taken for the safety of plants and workers.
In a communication to all union states and territories, the NDMA said that due to several weeks of closure and closure of industrial units, some of the operators may not have followed established standard operating procedures.
As a result, some of the manufacturing facilities, pipes and valves may have residual chemicals, which can pose a risk. The same is true for storage facilities with hazardous chemicals and flammable material, he said.
NDMA guidelines say that when restarting a unit, the first week should be considered the trial period or trial run after ensuring all safety protocols.
Companies should not try to achieve high production targets. There should be a 24-hour disinfection of the factory facilities, he said.
Factories need to maintain a disinfection routine every two to three hours, especially in common areas that include common dining rooms and tables that will have to be cleaned with disinfectants after each use, he added.
For housing, the NDMA said disinfection must be done regularly to ensure worker safety and reduce the spread of contamination.
To minimize risk, it is important that employees working on specific equipment are sensitized and aware of the need to identify abnormalities such as strange sounds or odors, exposed wires, vibrations, leaks, smoke, abnormal wobble, irregular grinding, or other potentially dangerous . Signs indicating the need for immediate maintenance or, if necessary, closure, he said.
To minimize risk and encourage a successful restart of industrial units, the following guidelines have been issued, the NDMA said.
At least 11 people were killed and another 1,000 were exposed to a gas leak at a factory in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on May 7.
The incident occurred after operations restarted when the government allowed industrial activities in certain sectors after several weeks of closure.
NDMA guidelines say that when there are no lockout or tagout procedures, many power sources can be dangerous to operators or supervisors who service or maintain electrical, mechanical, or chemical equipment. When heavy machinery and equipment are not regularly maintained, they can become dangerous to operators and engineers.
Combustible liquids, contained gaseous substances, open cables, conveyors, and automated vehicles make manufacturing facilities a high-risk environment.
Improper application of safety codes and incorrectly labeled chemicals can pose serious health risks. When an unexpected event occurs, managing the quick response becomes challenging.
The NDMA said state governments will also ensure that the off-site disaster management plan of the respective Major Accidental Risk Units (TACs) is up-to-date and that readiness to implement them is high.
The NDMA said that for manufacturing processes, a full safety audit must be performed for the entire unit before activities begin.
Many process units handle fuels or toxic substances (or both), the leakage of which could cause disasters, damages or economic losses.
To avoid the occurrence of such incidents, the NDMA said it is necessary to confirm that the plant meets the required tightness before commissioning.
The system is first pressurized with operating fluids and then checked for leaks.
For air lines, leaks can be found using a soapy solution. For water and condensate lines, the leak can be visually observed.
All vacuum systems must be leak tested. The air within the system is evacuated first to achieve the required vacuum.
The NDMA said trial tests will be carried out before full production starts with full human resources.
Ensure that the provision of 24-hour emergency crews / professional technical teams provided with MAH and the MAH group must have an extended coverage of 200 km to reach transportation accident points for help.
The NDMA said temperature checks should be done on all employees twice a day.
Workers with symptoms should not report to work, supplies of hand sanitizers and masks should be provided to all employers.
Administrative and administrative personnel must work a shift with a capacity of 33% according to the guidelines of the Ministry of the Interior (MHA), but when deciding which particular person will be included in 33% at any given time, priority should be given to the security personnel.
The blockade was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days in an attempt to combat the coronavirus threat. Then it was extended until May 3 and again until May 17.
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