1,000 Warehouses Dangerous: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

[webfact]

1,000 warehouses dangerous: BMA

THANATPONG KHONGSAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- At least 1,000 chemical/hazardous product warehouses are at a higher-than-acceptable risk and their managers should strictly supervise operations to prevent an accident, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said yesterday.

The BMA fears that the recent chemical leakage in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate that killed 12 people could be repeated in the capital.

Deputy governor Malinee Sukawejworakit met with warehouse operators to discuss preventive measures and encourage them to prepare for an emergency.

The city would suffer more damage and more loss of life than Map Ta Phut due to its crowded communities, she said.

The BMA assessed the risk and set safety measures for dangerous-to-health businesses according to the Fourth National Master Plan on Chemical Safety, she said.

So far 2,871 out of the 4,750 targeted warehouses have been surveyed and 28 were found at unacceptably high risk, 241 at high risk, 436 at moderate risk, 207 at slight risk and 1,862 at acceptable risk.

No risky warehouses were found in the inner city because most such facilities were located in the suburbs, as required by zoning regulations.

Those possessing hazardous substances were required to notify the responsible district office according to the Hazardous Substance Act, or face a Bt10,000 fine or even a jail term.

Since officials could not inspect all areas thoroughly, operators should conduct a self-evaluation of their risk and report it to the city, including any assistance needed, she added.

-- The Nation 2012-06-21

[samjaidee]

So far 2,871 out of the 4,750 targeted warehouses have been surveyed and 28 were found at unacceptably high risk, 241 at high risk, 436 at moderate risk, 207 at slight risk and 1,862 at acceptable risk.

28 + 241 + 436 + 207 = 912

"BANGKOK: -- At least 1,000 chemical/hazardous product warehouses are at a higher-than-acceptable risk"

Somebody's not very good at basic maths. Will they ever learn? Don't quote numbers in a story unless your sure the maths is correct.

[Thai at Heart]

Not only warehouses, there are hundreds of offices in high rises in Bangkok with god knows what stored in them.

I worked in an office block near Rangsit, and in the office next door, there was a company storing chemicals of various types with hazard markings all over them. A polite word to ask them what it was, was greeted with very short shrift.

[h90]

So far 2,871 out of the 4,750 targeted warehouses have been surveyed and 28 were found at unacceptably high risk, 241 at high risk, 436 at moderate risk, 207 at slight risk and 1,862 at acceptable risk.

28 + 241 + 436 + 207 = 912

"BANGKOK: -- At least 1,000 chemical/hazardous product warehouses are at a higher-than-acceptable risk"

Somebody's not very good at basic maths. Will they ever learn? Don't quote numbers in a story unless your sure the maths is correct.

When there are 912 in 2871, than you can be sure that at least there are 1000 in 4750.

I think the writer didn't mean it that way.

Or he thought: if they found 912, there are at least 88 more who could fix the problem with some tea money

But in fact it would be nice to have more details.

[Yunla]

They should prioritise Bills in parliament for the control and regulation of hazardous chemicals, this should be at the top of the Bills being put through. Not only warehouse storage, but the availability and nonregulation of poisons including airborne pesticides, the tipping of chemicals into the rivers and groundwater. For a computerised 21st Century nation like Thailand, to have such casual disregard for deadly toxins amongst the general population is certainlly inexcusable. Warehouses are one example but really it is a wrongheaded mindset of spending billions advertising Thailand on TV and everywhere, but not spending much money at all on basic safety regulations to make Thailand a healthy place for the citizens who live and raise children here.

[DeepInTheForest]

So far 2,871 out of the 4,750 targeted warehouses have been surveyed and 28 were found at unacceptably high risk, 241 at high risk, 436 at moderate risk, 207 at slight risk and 1,862 at acceptable risk.

28 + 241 + 436 + 207 = 912

"BANGKOK: -- At least 1,000 chemical/hazardous product warehouses are at a higher-than-acceptable risk"

Somebody's not very good at basic maths. Will they ever learn? Don't quote numbers in a story unless your sure the maths is correct.

Uh-huh. So you're saying that of the remaining 1,879 untested warehouses, no more than 88 will be at unacceptable risk.

Do you really think the headline is incorrect?

[petedk]

What is the definition of a "warehouse"?

We own a townhouse on Sukhumvit and 15 or so years ago when we bought the house it was in a residential area. Since then the neighbours on both sides have moved out and the house to one side is now completely dilapidated and infested with rats, cockroaches and termites.All fittings have been ripped out and the house is used to store barrels containing chemicals of some sort.

The barrels are clearly labelled with the hazardous chemical sign but when we asked what they contained we also given the usual "oh no worry. Everything legal and safe".

Is this "warehouse" registered with the authorities? I think I know the answer.

Having said that.... does anyone know where I could make some kind of official enquiry into this? The wife seems to take a "mai pen rai" attitude.

[TackyToo]

They should prioritise Bills in parliament for the control and regulation of hazardous chemicals, this should be at the top of the Bills being put through. Not only warehouse storage, but the availability and nonregulation of poisons including airborne pesticides, the tipping of chemicals into the rivers and groundwater. For a computerised 21st Century nation like Thailand, to have such casual disregard for deadly toxins amongst the general population is certainlly inexcusable. Warehouses are one example but really it is a wrongheaded mindset of spending billions advertising Thailand on TV and everywhere, but not spending much money at all on basic safety regulations to make Thailand a healthy place for the citizens who live and raise children here.

a computerised 21st Century nation like Thailand?

Are you joking? Forgot about the recent collapse of their entire administration system already?

[khaowong1]

A 10,000 baht fine.. that should scare the heck out of them..

[JohnAllan]

We are in Thailand. What do zoning regulations have to do with anything?

[JohnAllan]

They should prioritise Bills in parliament for the control and regulation of hazardous chemicals, this should be at the top of the Bills being put through. Not only warehouse storage, but the availability and nonregulation of poisons including airborne pesticides, the tipping of chemicals into the rivers and groundwater. For a computerised 21st Century nation like Thailand, to have such casual disregard for deadly toxins amongst the general population is certainlly inexcusable. Warehouses are one example but really it is a wrongheaded mindset of spending billions advertising Thailand on TV and everywhere, but not spending much money at all on basic safety regulations to make Thailand a healthy place for the citizens who live and raise children here.

This country entertains a casual disregard in any and all matters of safety.