Within a one-year period there have been seven gas related incidents in highly populated areas. These incidents include several gas explosions/fire: Maraval El Pecos incident with one fatality, St James Kleen Rite Dry Cleaners, San Fernando–explosion at a meat outlet, Port of Spain–leaking gas cylinder, Moruga–a vehicle destroyed in a fire sparked by a leaking gas pipeline, South shopping mall–a gas leak in a heavily populated area, Southern city–a fire in a shopping area on a busy street (it is believed the blaze started in the kitchen of a food outlet).
These incidents that are occurring at such frequent intervals indicate gaps in the system that is affecting the safe operating parameters within these high consequence areas.
If these gaps are not addressed immediately and systems put in place, there are going to be further, more catastrophic incidents/accidents occurring in the near future.
International operating and safety standards (DOT, ASME, OSHA) must be adopted and structurally implemented to ensure a safe environment for operators and the public when handling highly volatile and explosive fuels in high consequence areas (restaurants, malls, factories etc).
These include approved procedures for operating and maintaining supplier and receiver facilities that involve scheduled vessel/piping and equipment inspection and certification, personnel training/certification, safety plans, risk assessments, job hazard analysis, permit to work system, HSE approved procedures and safety check list before dispersing gas to LIVE facilities.
There must also be a Stand Down policy when filling fuel gas from road tankers to storage tanks within or near to facilities that operate with open flames (restaurants). The mandatory installation of gas sensors/alarms/ monitors strategically placed at consumers to alert personnel of gas leaks will ensure quick emergency response by operators and timely evacuation of workers and the public.
Data from past major gas-related catastrophic accidents worldwide did indicate a trend of incidents that occurred prior to the accident that was not timely addressed or addressed at all.
Noting the frequent incidents/accidents that are occurring relating to highly volatile explosive fuels, short and long term systems must be implemented, enforced and closely monitored for adherence to avoid serious accidents that can lead to loss of lives, destruction of operating assets and in the present economic climate, loss of jobs.
A point to note is the most recent gas explosion that occurred in Central Paris that destroyed an occupied building causing injuries to occupants.
L Rajpaulsingh,
Former Manager at National Gas Company of T&T Ltd
