Complaint Lodged Over Gas Leak

[webfact]

MAP TA PHUT CONTROVERSY

Complaint lodged over gas leak

By The Nation

Published on December 14, 2009

A group of residents lodged a complaint yesterday against the recent leakage of an unknown gas inside the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and the discharge of black smoke by IRPC.

"Those responsible will be charged with recklessness causing harm to others and violations of the Environment Act," the group said.

After deeply inhaling the gas of unknown origin, six workers had to be hospitalised immediately with symptoms of shock, dizziness and nausea.

The gas, which spread to roads I5 and I6 in the industrial park, also triggered the evacuation of over 200 workers in factories near the Glow power plant.

The IRPC factory located at Moo 5 of Tambon Nern Phra in Muang Rayong district also spewed black smoke.

Most of the villagers living near the factory were panicking over the incidents and many drivers stopped their cars on Sukhumvit Road to watch the huge cloud of black smoke.

An IRPC representative blamed the black fumes on an electrical malfunction inside the factory caused by insufficient current from the Provincial Electricity Authority. The factory needed to shut down and release the black smoke that remained in the manufacturing process into the air.

"What are the safety measures for local people living here that the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has provided?" a representative of the local people asked. "How can we be sure that their measures to control accidents are safe enough?"

After exposure to the non-toxic but highly flammable petrochemical gas last Saturday, up to 63 people needed urgent medical treatment at a local hospital.

Last month, a chemical leakage also struck Laem Chabang Port in the neighbouring province of Chon Buri. The sodium persulfate - extremely irritating for the skin, eyes and respiratory system - sent dozens of people to the hospital. One woman later died in hospital.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand to improve its safety measures for accidents.

In Khon Kaen, more than a hundred students of Thetsaban Wat Klang School were rushed to the hospital following vomiting, itchy eyes and dizziness after breathing in ammonia gas, which leaked from the Mittrapap Ice Factory located near the campus.

Tanasin Unsakol, a 32-year-old owner of the factory, said the leakage of ammonia gas was caused by the malfunction of a machine. He also promised to get rid of the stench within seven days.

-- The Nation 2009/12/14

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Credo]

Another example of the implementation of all the signs you see that say "Safety First". This industrial state either needs to seriously clean up it's standards or the people living in the vicinity need to be moved further away. It's scary to think of the amount of other pollutants that are being released that don't cause injury and death immediately.

[Credo]

Another example of the implementation of all the signs you see that say "Safety First". This industrial state either needs to seriously clean up it's standards or the people living in the vicinity need to be moved further away. It's scary to think of the amount of other pollutants that are being released that don't cause injury and death immediately.

[webfact]

DSI plans to probe Map Ta Phut gas leakage case

The Department of Special Investigations will deploy officials to gather first-hand information about pollution and gas leakage at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate for launching an investigation.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdis said he had assigned Sansern Palawatwichai, chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Division to gather information about pollution and gas or chemical contamination at the industrial estate.

After the DSI gets information, it will ask an approval from the DSI board of directors to allow the department to take up the case for a special investigation, Tharit said.

-- The Nation 2009/12/14

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Credo]

Maybe some organization or government agency that specializes in hazardous materials should do the ground work. They might want to check for all kinds of pollutants, both air and water. It would seem that then the DSI could bring charges, if warranted.