Chlor alkali industry volunteers to handle chlorine emergency

On 19 October, 2013, panic gripped Chandigarh when dysfunctional chlorine gas cylinders loaded on a truck started leaking profusely near Sector 15 and 24. Fortunately, there was no casualty, but many people had to be given preliminary treatment. Could accidents such as this be handled professionally to minimise the loss? Perhaps yes, had the police and concerned government officials knew about All-India Chlorine Emergency Network, a voluntary initiative started by Alkali Manufacturers' Association of India (AMAI) aimed to promptly respond to any emergency situation due to release of chlorine during its transportation and its usage at consumers’ end.
 
The chlorine emergency response network, which was initially implemented region-wise in May 2010, has been subsequently integrated on a nation-wide level in May 2012. Today, the network covers 32 chlor-alkali plants, and is functional in 20 states and three Union Territories all over India.
 
The response from the industry is very good, says Harisaran Das, Jt Director (SHE), AMAI, who has conceptualised, developed and implemented the pan-India chlorine emergency network. He adds, “Top management of all the chlor alkali units have committed to be part of the network and also committed to attend chlorine emergency if it occurs near their unit irrespective of the chlorine supplied by any other unit.”
 
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This can be exemplified, when recently a truck carrying chlorine (supplied by a unit in Rajasthan) met with an accident in Aligarh, the nearest unit in Punjab attended emergency through the network. Similarly, in November 2013, one chlorine leakage occurred in a water works in Tamil Nadu which was attended by the nearest chlor alkali unit through the chlorine emergency network. The supply was from a unit in Kerala. “With increasing awareness about the Chlorine Emergency Response Network, people are trying to take help of the network to mitigate chlorine emergencies,” opines Das.
 
How does it functions?
Chlorine is one of the most versatile and useful chemicals used for manufacturing a variety of products including PVC, paper, textile, pharmaceuticals, organic & inorganic chemicals, water treatment, etc. However, it is very hazardous in nature, as any leakage can endanger human life and also damage environment. Hence, leakages have to be attended at the earliest, and need to be stopped and its spread contained. Chlorine manufacturers are better equipped to handle all incidents during transportation or at the consumer’s end. The Chlorine Emergency Response Network uses preciously this know-how of the industry to curtail losses.
 
The working of the network is very simple. All the chlor alkali unit have been inter linked through a network of telephones installed in the control rooms of the chlor alkali units. The chlor alkali units work on mutual cooperation and attend chlorine emergency if it happens nearer to their unit irrespective of the chlorine supplied by any other unit. As soon as any chlorine incident takes place the nearest chlor alkali unit gets a call from the site of incident and the unit head or the designated responsible person mobilise resources to attend the leakages.
 
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“The unit head of the industry is responsible to mobilise resources to attend any chlorine emergency as soon as it is reported to the unit. Also, each unit has nominated two responsible persons who are directly responsible to attend the chlorine emergencies. Each unit has also nominated one co-ordinator for implementation of the Chlorine Emergency Response Network in their own unit and co-ordinate with other units of the region. A proper documented system of the Chlorine Emergency Network have been implemented in all the chlor alkali units,” informs Das.
 
The major challenge for implementation of the network was communication of the incident to the nearest unit. For this, AMAI installed a pan-India toll free telephone 1800-11-1735 through MTNL in April 2013. This toll free telephone is connected to the dedicated numbers installed in the control rooms of the chlor alkali units. “The process control room in the chlor alkali units are operating round the clock and, therefore, the chlorine incident information can be received in the control rooms of chlor alkali unit at any time of the day. After the incident report is received in the control room of the chlor alkali unit, the same is passed directly to the unit head/responsible person who mobilises resources to attend the incident,” observes Das.
 
Reducing response time, and also damages
At present, there is no historic data available to make comparison of chlorine incidents occurred after implementation of the network with the past incidents. However, AMAI has been collecting the incident datas from all the units on monthly basis since implementation of the network. The datas are collated and reviewed periodically. Das points out, “It is immature to come to any conclusion whether the incident has come down or gone up. The network only helps to reduce the response time and the consequent human and environmental losses.”
 
The emergency response network is not only to attend chlorine emergencies but also to take preventive measures to avoid chlorine incidents. AMAI aims to reduce the overall chlorine emergency incidents over a period of time by adopting proper handling measures and providing training to consumers. Das informs, “These training programmes and awareness of the consumers are also being monitored regularly. After a period of time, we will come to know the total number of incidents whether it is increasing or decreasing.”
 
Need to spread awareness
The Network, operational in 20 states and three Union Territories, was unable to attend all the chlorine emergencies across the country with its 32 chlor alkali units located in 14 states. Hence, AMAI enlisted major chlorine consumers located all over India as ‘Assisted Units’ in the Network and trained their persons on chlorine emergency handling and also provided necessary safety equipment so that they are empowered to attend any chlorine emergency.
 
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Das adds, “Whenever required, the chlor alkali units take the help of these ‘Assisted Units’ if any chlorine incident occurs nearer to their units. Thus, over the years, the total number of units ready to attend any chlorine emergency will be very large and spread all over the country and the response time to attend emergencies will be reduced significantly.”
 
For creating awareness, AMAI is conducting awareness training programmes on chlorine emergency response network in chlor alkali units where the association trains employees of the units, transporters, drivers and consumers. It has also plans to integrate the chlorine emergency response network with the respective state disaster management authorities. It has already made a beginning in Gujarat. “For the present, all the control stations of the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority has been furnished information about the Western Region Chlorine Emergency Response Network. Each chlor alkali unit have also furnished details of chlorine emergency response network to local administration/police for information,” informs Das.
 
While the AMAI has taken the initiative for handling chlorine emergency, its success will depend on not just people associated with the industry, but also on the other key stakeholders - regulatory/government officials and the society at large.