Chicken plant likely to suspend operations following tragic accident

[webfact]

Chicken plant likely to suspend operations following tragic accident
By Jessada Jantarak, 
Supachai Petchtewee
The Nation

 

 

Poisonous gas may be linked to five deaths at pond; mystery about who lifted 30kg lid

 

BANGKOK: -- A CHICKEN-processing plant run by Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) in Bangkok will likely have to suspend manufacturing operations in the wake of the tragic accident that saw five people die in its wastewater treatment pond. 

 

The Industrial Works Department (IWD) has ordered the pond closed for 30 days for improvements. 

 

The closure will require the suspension of manufacturing operations, IWD head Mongkol Pruekwatana said yesterday.

 

On Friday, a Chulalongkorn University student on her third day of an educational visit to the CPF plant in Bang Na district died after falling into a wastewater pond – along with four CPF employees who attempted to rescue her. 

 

Hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous colourless gas, may have contributed to their deaths. But questions remain about the cause of the incident.

 

“There was no lid over the pond. When we checked the scene, we found that the lid was in the pond,” Mongkol said.

 

It is still not clear how the student fell into the pond, which was meant to have a cover over it at all times. The three-by-four-metre pond is about 2.5 metres deep. 

 

Both the Department and |police are investigating the |incident. 

 

“We must gather circumstantial evidence to determine what caused this tragic accident,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt General Sanit Mahathavorn said yesterday. “There is no CCTV at the spot.”

 

Police were awaiting expert advice before consider if charges should be filed against anyone. 

 

Police have interviewed more than 10 relevant people. “We will also take into account the opinion of the IWD,” Sanit said. 

 

CPF ‘violated regulations’

 

CPF violated IWD regulations by allegedly failing to keep the area around the pond tidy, however. “Such failure raises the risk of accidents,” Sanit said. 

 

Mongkol said the plant insisted the lid was in place between 7am and 8am last Friday. “It could not say who entered the area and removed the lid later that day,” Mongkol said. “But the lid weighs more than 30kg. It would take at least two people to remove it.” He said the inspection showed there was a “No Entry – Authorised Persons Only” sign in front of the pond. 

 

“The student was at the spot with an environmental officer of the plant. 

 

“Given that the officer started work there just six months ago, she might have not been experienced enough,” Mongkol said.

 

An air-quality check at the scene showed oxygen was at a safe |level, but circumstances at the time of the incident might have been different. “When the department’s officials arrived, it was already five hours after the incident,” he said. “We will investigate further.” 

 

The Environmental Engineering Association of Thailand’s president Prasert Tapaneeyangkul praised the CPF employees who rushed to the students’ rescue for their bravery, but he stressed that in such |circumstances only people with the right knowledge should deliver help. 

 

“The scene is a confined space and has hydrogen sulfide, which can prove fatal,” Prasert said. 

 

He said when designing wastewater treatment ponds, the plant owner and engineer should ensure there is enough space to rescue anyone in trouble. 

 

“But as a safety precaution, a locked lid should be in place at all times. Communication devices and protective gear should be available to facilitate a timely rescue.” 

 

If the amount of hydrogen |sulfide exceeded 50 parts per |million in the air, people might lose |consciousness after 10 minutes of exposure.

 

“If the amount goes past 100 parts per million, people exposed to it will die immediately,” he said. 

 

Prasert said his association was willing to educate officials working at plants about safety measures. 

 

“We hope no such tragedy ever takes place again,” he said. 

 

Hydrogen sulfide is a colourless gas with the characteristic foul odour of rotten eggs. It is very poisonous, corrosive and flammable.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319171

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-27

[halloween]

Note that in concentrations higher than 20ppm the rotten egg smell can no longer be detected.

http://www.ivhhn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83

[Scott]

Off-topic post and reply removed.  

[Xonax]

Another tragic result of greed overruling safety and maintenance!

If anyone in Thailand could afford proper safety and maintenance it would be Charoen Pokphand. 

[halloween]

May well be a simple industrial accident. The lid of the normally sealed pit was found in the pit, so it is quite possible the student stepped onto an incorrectly fitted lid and they both fell in. The 4 workers who tried to assist him had a normal human reaction to attempt to help somebody in danger, something which will happen even with highly trained personnel.

If the H2S was at toxic levels they wouldn't smell it. Even more likely is that putrefaction in the pit had reduced oxygen to a very low level. In either case, loss of consciousness occurs very rapidly.

[Happyman58]

1 hour suspension should be long enough  Also a big fat envelope on the table should help the investigators in there findings Good to see these companies always willing to help They care so much for their workers you know

[lordblackader]

Of all the ways to die in Thailand...

[The Deerhunter]

58 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

Of all the ways to die in Thailand...

.......Death by an odor-free un-identified gas, probably painlessly, would have to be one of the better ones.

 

But presumably, that is not what you meant.  

But an un-necessary waste of lives and very sad for those left behind.  With proper education and proper factory safety practices, totally avoidable as well.

[webfact]

CPF Treatment Pond Chief Charged With Negligence Over 5 Deaths

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee, Staff Reporter

 

  

A wastewater treatment plant on Friday at a CP-owned meat processing plant in Bangkok’s Bang Na district.

 

BANGKOK — The manager of the wastewater treatment pond at a food processing plant on Monday evening turned himself in to police and was charged with negligence following the death of five people inside the premises in Bang Na district.

 

After being questioned for several hours by police on Monday, Preecha Tamporn, the head of the wastewater treatment pond inside the Charoen Pokphand Foods, or CPF, plant was charged with negligence resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail time or a 200,000-baht fine – or both.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/crime-crime/2017/06/27/cpf-treatment-pond-chief-charged-negligence-5-deaths/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-06-27

[NCC1701A]

" 10 years in jail time or a 200,000-baht fine – or both."

 

Lets hope it is just the 200,000 baht fine. That will teach him.

 

[Happyman58]

Laughing here  Notice it is only the Manager and not the owners who are being charged  The envelope sorted that out quick Managers are not big fish They will have new one in place already

[Beats56]

5 hours ago, Happyman58 said:

Laughing here  Notice it is only the Manager and not the owners who are being charged  The envelope sorted that out quick Managers are not big fish They will have new one in place already

Same as any industry in the west. The supervisor and worker are charged for not having or not following proper procedures or not having proper safety to protect people. Also possible the company could be fined too.

 

[Happyman58]

14 minutes ago, Beats56 said:

Same as any industry in the west. The supervisor and worker are charged for not having or not following proper procedures or not having proper safety to protect people. Also possible the company could be fined too.

 

 

14 minutes ago, Beats56 said:

Same as any industry in the west. The supervisor and worker are charged for not having or not following proper procedures or not having proper safety to protect people. Also possible the company could be fined too.

 

After the red bull saga  do you really think that will happen in Thailand  Chances are about a million to one