HAZARDOUS FACTORIES

3-monthly inspection planned

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

After the blast at Bangkok Synthetics on Saturday, the Industry Ministry is thinking about the establishment of an ad hoc centre to analyse industrial disasters. The centre would have to provide correct information to villagers living near factories wh

3,000 plants in line for more frequent checks; chemical facilities main focus

BANGKOK: -- The Industry Ministry will tighten the regulations on hazardous plants, particularly those involved with chemicals, by mandating about 3,000 factories to be inspected every three months for risky operations.

The measure follows the blast at Bangkok Synthetics on Saturday that killed 11 workers at its plant in Hemaraj Industrial Estate, Map Ta Phut, Rayong province. On Sunday, another accident happened at Aditya Birla Chemicals, also in Map Ta Phut, due to a chlorine leak.

Witoon Simachokedee, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, yesterday said factories currently had to be inspected when applying for operating licences, when expanding their licences, and during licence renewal, which takes place every five years. But to prevent serious accidents, inspections now will be required more frequently.

He said that of the roughly 140,000 plants nationwide, about 3,000 were categorised as major hazardous operations. These plants, particularly large-scale operations, are the major targets of the proposed regulation requiring three-monthly inspections.

"We expect to finalise the ministerial regulation within this budget year, that is, by September," he said.

Witoon said the ministry had to revamp other regulations such as the process of granting manufacturing licences. It may have to set up a specific committee to consider and approve such licences, particularly for hazardous plants. Currently, the Department of Industrial Works handles this job alone, and this may not be sufficient if Thailand wants to prevent serious accidents in the future.

He said the ministry was also thinking about the establishment of an ad hoc centre to analyse industrial disasters. The centre would have to provide correct information to villagers living near factories whenever accidents happen.

The Industry Ministry has also assigned relevant departments and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand to review risk-assessment and risk-analysis reports as to whether they reflected proper scrutiny or skipped some processes to deal with the situation as fast as possible.

-- The Nation 2012-05-09

You people have shares in inspection companies? PAE, QLT, TNDT, etc.

I admire their sentiment in promising to inspect the factories, but i have to ask......who would know what they are looking for??

I admire their sentiment in promising to inspect the factories, but i have to ask......who would know what they are looking for??

I think I can answer that question.... Backhanders

Where I worked, we had regular training, and refresher courses to help ensure we had the skills. Never mind that regular inspections are mandatory. It will take some organising and a lot of training to get this done to the necessary standard.

I wonder if the inspections will be carried out by the same guys who carried out the one's last month? I think a regional reshuffling of the pollution control department may be in order.

"planned"

_{10,000B SAYS THEY ALL PASS WITH FLYING COLOURS !}

"Witoon Simachokedee, permanent secretary of the Industry Ministry, yesterday said factories currently had to be inspected when applying for operating licences, when expanding their licences, and during licence renewal, which takes place every five years. But to prevent serious accidents, inspections now will be required more frequently."

So according to the above statement they are going from 5 yearly inspections to 3 monthly ones, or have I read that wrong? That should be interesting.

I wonder what these 3 monthly inspections will entail? And who will be expected to foot the bill, ie, will the companies/plants be expected to pay for the privilege of inspection?