POINT LISAS PORT AND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

DISASTER RESPONSE AMMONIA SPILL

Ammonia InhalationImmediate specialist medical attention

requiredShort Term Exposure Limit is 35 ppm for ten

(10) minutes500 ppm immediately dangerous to life and

healthSevere chemical burns (mucus membrane,

respiratory tract etc..) may be life threatening if not treated correctly in a timely manner

RESPONSIBILITIES

Port Manager Initiates response

Management of incident

Safety OfficerEmergency response Initiate relevant

safety resourcesFormulate rescue

teams

Alternate incident commanderOC Marine

Alternate Safety OfficerSecurity Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES

Officer in Charge, MarineAll radio communications

Assistant Port ManagerEvacuation of all

PersonnelCoordination of all

vehicles for response effort

Security ManagerTraffic ManagementSecurity

Senior Customs OfficerAssigned statutory

functions

ORGANISATION CHART EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

PLIPDECO PORT

E m ergency C oordS afety O fficer

E vacuationA ss t P ort M gr

C om m unicationO C M arine

T raffic M gt/S ecurityM gr S ecurity

C us tom sS nr C ustom s O fficer

Inc ident Com m anderP ort M anager

Public Relations

Media

TTEMAS

OtherAgencies

The ScenarioAmmonia Release - Savonetta Pier I

Date: 28 June 1996Time: 1000 hoursLocation: Loading TerminalActivity: Loading of an Ammonia TankerIncident: Release of high concentration of

Ammonia

Cause:

Malfunction of the loading arm end (coupling)Loading Rate: 1,000 tonnes per hourDuration of Release: 5 minutesQuantity Released: 85 tonnesWind direction & speed: West to East at 10 mphAreas Affected:

Port & Estate (Plants include TTMC, Arcadian, Shell Lubricants), portion of California (residents south of Gilbert Park)

Ammonia Release - SP I

Population at risk: 955Port - 230Arcadian - 180Shell Lubricants - 25TTMC II - 40LCL /CES - 55California Gov’t School - 350California Residents - 75

Ammonia Release - SP I

10:00 Loading arm uncoupled10:00:05 Operator at SP I, Visual observation of incident,

Calibrator Alarms at Control Rm10:00:30 Operator, Control Room SP I,

sounds alarm button at Port, Incident Commander alerted

10:00:45 Control Room monitors & alerts Operator at Plant, simultaneously initiating TTEMAS Grid

Ammonia Release - SP I

10:01 Informs Ammonia Operator by hand radio, Port Incident

Commander activates Emergency Response Team

10:04 Valve shut off at source10:05 Lines free of NH3

Ammonia Release - SP I

Control Room Operator observes 3 employees on pier overcome by Ammonia inhalation

Ammonia observed to be travelling over Port heading eastwards

Observations relayed to Incident Commander (Port Manager)

Casualties taken to first stage triage pointFirst Aiders report to triage areaAll available vehicles report to triage area

Ammonia Release - SP I

TTEMAS Communication Grid initiated by Operator’s radio call to NGC channelFire ServicesPoliceNEMAHospitalsPLIPDECO Senior ManagementKey personnel at Estate Plants Couva Regional Council

ALL MEDIA RELEASES VIA OFFICE OF PLIPDECO PRO

Ammonia Release - Communication

10:04 Land Evacuation of Port commences supervised by Evacuation Coordinator

10:04 Sea Evacuation commences supervised by Senior Tug Engineer

10:04 Evacuation/safety plans of individual companies commences (Arcadian, Shell, TTMC II, CES/LCL)

Emergency Traffic Management/Control PlanCommunity evacuation plan by Regional Corporation10:13 Complete evacuation of Port and affected areas on Point

Lisas Estate

Evacuation: Land & Sea

Estate Emergency ResourcesSix (6) Ambulances owned and operated by TenantsFour (4) Tugs (2 fire fighting)Six (6) Fire TendersSix (6) pickups, 2 maxis (37 person capacity)Medical Services

Four (4) First Aid StationsTwo (2) On Call Doctors Four (4) NursesTwo (2) ParamedicsForty (40) First Aiders

Report on Incident

Failure of loading arm equipment 3 persons died instantly at SP I12 critically injured, 5 died while awaiting

treatmentSevere traffic congestion and accidentsCommunity not fully evacuated

Assessment

Communication:no clear warning communicated to residentsvisitors did not know how to respond to sirens/alarms

Emergency Response (Medical):inadequate personal protective equipmentresponse time for medical attention inadequateinadequate specialized medical personnel inadequate triage equipment and facilities

Emergency Response (Protective Services):Inadequate training & equipment to handle industrial

emergencies

EvacuationCommunity not evacuated in a timely mannerinadequate resources & training to evacuate community

Traffic ManagementCongestion at BC Roundabout affecting emergency personnel

required on the Estate, as well as persons evacuated

Assessment

Health Facility Response Comparison

COUVA SAN F'DO POSGH MT HOPE

BASIC EMS INADEQ ADEQ ADEQ ADEQ

SPECIALIZED EMS INADEQ INADEQ ADEQ INADEQ

RESPONSE TIME ADEQ INADEQ INADEQ INADEQ

10 mins 25 mins 55 mins 35 mins

RecommendationsCommunication: installation of sirens and public address

warning system for communityDevelop & testing of emergency plan with Community

involvementPublic education for communities on emergency response

& evacuation proceduresNeed for Off-site Emergency Command Centre A Twenty Four (24) Hour Medical Facility Providing

General & Emergency Care Services to Victims of Industrial Accidents

Fire station built and fully equipped to handle industrial incidents

Highly specialized HAZMAT Team available to handle industrial incidents

Adequate personnel protective equipment for employees

Preventive maintenance plan for equipmentSafety Orientation for visitors to Estate and PortRestrict access to Estate

Recommendations

Emergency traffic management/control plan (removal of all traffic flow impediments BC Roundabout and island on SMR)

Periodic testing of Emergency Plans for Estate and individual Plant

Recommendations