16-07-2019

1

Industrial disasters & toxicity : Role of

Armed Forces to Synergise Challenges &

Wayahead ’

Industrial disasters & toxicity : Role of

Armed Forces to Synergise Challenges &

Wayahead ’

Brig Vinod Dutta, former

Secretary,Def Crisis Mgmt

Group (Disaster Mgmt), HQ

IDS ,MoD

Sr Advisor DM

16-07-2019

2

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction• Since times immemorial, mankind has been continuously exposed to

naturally occurring ionising radiation. However, it was only towards the end of the nineteenth century that human beings became aware of it, when X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Roentgen and radioactivity in uranium salts was discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896.

• This was followed by the discovery of nuclear fission by German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman in 1939.

• The dreadful memory of the use of nuclear weapons in 1945 by USA on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and the wide publicity given to the reactor accidents at Three Mile Island (TMI) in USA and Chernobyl in erstwhile USSR has strongly influenced the public perception of any nuclear emergency to be linked most often, though erroneously, to only these events.

MAN MADE DISASTERS AFFECTING CORPORATES

Accidents

Terrorism Fire

NBC

Accidents

16-07-2019

3

Chemical DisastersChemical DisastersChemical DisastersChemical Disasters• The growth of chemical industries has led to an increase in the risk of

occurrence of incidents associated with hazardous chemicals (HAZCHEM).

• A chemical industry that incorporates the best principles of safety, can largely prevent such incidents. Common causes for chemical accidents are deficiencies in safety management systems and human errors, or they may occur as a consequence of natural calamities or sabotage activities

• Chemical accidents result in fire, explosion and/or toxic release. The nature of chemical agents and their concentration during exposure ultimately decides the toxicity and damaging effects on living organisms in the form of symptoms and signs like irreversible pain, suffering, and death. Meteorological conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, height of inversion layer, stability class, etc., also play an important role by affecting the dispersion pattern of toxic gas clouds.

• The Bhopal Gas tragedy of 1984—the worst chemical disaster in history, where over 2000 people died due to the accidental release of the toxic gas Methyl Isocyanate, is still fresh in our memories.

Risks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEM• Increased industrial activities and the risks associated with HAZCHEM and

enhanced vulnerability lead to industrial and chemical accidents

• Chemical accidents may originate in the manufacturing or formulation facility, or during the process operations at any stage of the product cycle, material handling, transportation and storage of HAZCHEM.

• Vulnerability is sometimes compounded due to the location of Major Accident Hazard (MAH) industries closer to densely populated areas. Chemical and industrial accidents generally occur due to technical failures that can be anticipated

• The risk associated with them can thus be predicted and reduced effectively by identification of risk areas, risk assessment and designing pre-operative measures. The occurrence of chemical accidents and probability thereof, manifesting in a disaster, remain a cause of concern.

• Effective Chemical Disaster Management (CDM) is possible by the adoption of preventive and mitigation strategies as most chemical disasters are preventable in comparison to natural disasters that are difficult to predict and prevent.

16-07-2019

4

Risks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEMRisks Posed by HAZCHEM• Increased industrial activities and the risks associated with HAZCHEM and

enhanced vulnerability lead to industrial and chemical accidents

• Chemical accidents may originate in the manufacturing or formulation facility, or during the process operations at any stage of the product cycle, material handling, transportation and storage of HAZCHEM.

• Vulnerability is sometimes compounded due to the location of Major Accident Hazard (MAH) industries closer to densely populated areas. Chemical and industrial accidents generally occur due to technical failures that can be anticipated

• The risk associated with them can thus be predicted and reduced effectively by identification of risk areas, risk assessment and designing pre-operative measures. The occurrence of chemical accidents and probability thereof, manifesting in a disaster, remain a cause of concern.

• Effective Chemical Disaster Management (CDM) is possible by the adoption of preventive and mitigation strategies as most chemical disasters are preventable in comparison to natural disasters that are difficult to predict and prevent.

Role of Armed Forces

Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode

• The safety, honour and welfare of

your country come first, always and

every time.

• The honour, welfare and comfort of

the men you command come next.

• Your own ease, comfort and safety

come last, always and every time.

16-07-2019

5

Role of the Armed ForcesRole of the Armed ForcesRole of the Armed ForcesRole of the Armed Forces• The armed forces by their inherent organisational infrastructure,

training, leadership, communication, etc., are ideally suited to be first responders in any national level calamity or disaster.

• Creating specialised ambulances for CBRN casualty evacuation.

• Decontamination facilities, specialised treatment wards, and adequate specialised laboratory support is necessary for the management of CTD ( CHEMICAL TERRORISM DISATER).

• Earmarking of command-wise first responders from all medical resources of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force

• Creation of adequate stockpiles of necessary antidotes, decontamination agents, and essential drugs along with their turnover policy, under various commands.

• Conduct periodic exercises to ensure efficacy of CTD response plans

CBRN : Quick Reaction Teams (10)

NAGROTA

KANCHRAPARA

JALANDHAR

PUNE

BARABANKI

DELHI

MUMBAI

VISAKHAPATNAMCOCHIN

DELHI

16-07-2019

6

AKHNOOR

BINAGURI

JALANDHAR

PUNE

ALLAHABAD

DELHI

MUMBAI

VISAKHAPATNAMCOCHIN

CBRN : Quick Reaction Med Teams (9)

The roles and responsibilities of various The roles and responsibilities of various The roles and responsibilities of various The roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders at centre, state & stakeholders at centre, state & stakeholders at centre, state & stakeholders at centre, state & DisttDisttDisttDistt LevelLevelLevelLevel• The management of chemical disasters will aim at prevention and

mitigation with the introduction of safer process technologies, improved performance of safety devices and reduction of human error.

• Immediate effects of a disaster can be mitigated through installing engineering systems like scrubbers, flares and venting systems.

• A regulatory framework, code of practises, procedures and standards, testing and information, technical and technological information, preparedness including education, training, creation of appropriate infrastructure, capacity development, awareness generation,

• Strengthening of the present regulatory framework to meet the defined national policies and aspirations; augmentation of technical support functions.

16-07-2019

7

Contd….• A supportive and technology neutral regulation framework.

• Legislation on land-use policy (buffer zone around chemical industry).

• Standardisation of national codes and practises.

• Emphasis on regular safety audit, identification and selection of professional organisations and their accreditation.

• Commissioning and decommissioning of chemical industries.

• Preparation of On-Site and Off-Site Plans

• Regular testing of emergency plans.

• Need of medical first responders and medical inventory to deal with specialised chemical accidents at the installation site.

• Crisis management plans of hospitals to manage the victims of chemical emergencies.

ContdContdContdContd• Concept of mobile hospital and mobile teams

• Issues related to public health response, medical rehabilitation and harmful effects on the environment

• Post-disaster documentation and analysis.

• Live Bombs, war scrap lying in container Depots (Delhi, Mumbai,Raj)

• Atleast 469 containers of hazardous waste is lying in Inland container depots(ICD) of customs and container Freight stations (CFS) for 17 yrs

• Live bombs entered as Shredded scrap from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran and other places which is remains of US war on Iraq, Syria & Af

• Some Ctn are awaiting destr while some have already reached foundries in Gzb & Moradabad for extraction

• There are 80 active ICDs handling EXIM worth 4.27 lakh Cr

• 7877 ctn occupied 1.17 lakh SQM, 3397 Ctn awaiting disposal for more than three years

16-07-2019

8

Chemical Accidents During TransportationChemical Accidents During TransportationChemical Accidents During TransportationChemical Accidents During Transportation• Preparation of a highway DM plan.

• Modification of rules pertaining to transport emergencies.

Specific roles and responsibilities of MAH units, transporters, drivers, authorities and aspects related to emergency communication systems and training of various stakeholders.

The need for the development of an efficient pipeline management system.

Action PlanAction PlanAction PlanAction Plan• Putting in place a national mechanism for covering all major disasters

and reporting mechanisms at the district level.

• Dovetailing regulations governing HAZCHEM safety with the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act, 2005)

• Establishing a risk management framework criterion for chemical assessment.

• Strengthening of the institutional framework for CDM and its integration with the activities of the NDMA, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and other stakeholders.

• Renewed focus on model safety codes/ standards for prevention of accidents at industry level by matching processes and technologies for safety installations

16-07-2019

9

Action PlanAction PlanAction PlanAction Plan• Identifying infrastructure needs for preparing mitigation plans.

• Implementing a financial strategy for the allocation of funds for different national and state/district level mitigation projects.

• Establishing an efficient information network for dissemination of alerts, warning and response messages.

• Identifying/recognising training institutions

• Strengthening the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, medical first responders and other emergency responders.

• Revamping of home guards and civil defence for CDM.

• Developing a national medical emergency plan binding all government, private and public hospitals with unified, wellestablishedtriage and other emergency procedures.

Action PlanAction PlanAction PlanAction Plan• Developing highway DM plans for all the identified stretches, nodal

points, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) integrated in the driver’s kit.

• Establishing a register of relevant national and international institutes and information exchange programmes.

• Establishing post-disaster documentation procedures, epidemiological surveys and minimum criteria for relief and rehabilitation.

• Sensitising the community on chemical disasters.

• Sensitising all stakeholders, especially the management of MAH units for a more proactive role in prevention of chemical

16-07-2019

10

Management of Chemical (Terrorism) DisastersManagement of Chemical (Terrorism) DisastersManagement of Chemical (Terrorism) DisastersManagement of Chemical (Terrorism) Disasters

• In November 2004 a United Nations (UN) panel described terrorism as ‘an act intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population, or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act

• A terrorist attack involving chemical agents differs from other terrorist attacks as it presents specific health effects to a larger population in the shortest possible period, hence creating great panic in the community.

• The major targets of terrorists include important persons, densely populated and crowded locations, market places, religious congregations, public functions, convention centres, sports events, food and entertainment facilities, utility services like electricity, gas, or water supplies, important places like government institutions including key economic, military, scientific or other sensitive installations, etc.

Basel ConventionBasel ConventionBasel ConventionBasel Convention

• The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements

of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, usually known as the Basel

Convention, is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs).

• It does not, however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation, and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate.

16-07-2019

11

Basel ConventionBasel ConventionBasel ConventionBasel Convention

• 187 member countries, USA & Haiti has not ratified it

• USA is max plastic producing country

• Approx 10 Cr tons of plastic is there in terms of waste

• 2018 China stopped incoming plastic waste

• 2019 Philipines and Malaysia returned the plastic waste to USA, Saudi Arabia, UK

Mayapuri :Metal Mayapuri :Metal Mayapuri :Metal Mayapuri :Metal recycling recycling recycling recycling activities activities activities activities mktmktmktmkt

• One of the main business at Mayapuri is the recycling of metal scraps and sale of salvage vehicle parts.

• It is, arguably, the biggest market for used automotive and industrial spare parts in India. Many traders from all over India come here to sell or purchase old auto parts. Many small workshops specialised in different metals are active in the Mayapuri area.

• The safety of the scrap yards became a concern after the radiological accident which occurred in April 2010. The area is not equipped with radiation detectors or portics, despite being a common practice in steel recycling factories in the US and in most of the European countries.

• The presence of toxic heavy metals and of harmful chemicals in the waste generated by these activities presents a direct menace for the health of several thousands of people living in the area.

16-07-2019

12

Mayapuri Radiation leakMayapuri Radiation leakMayapuri Radiation leakMayapuri Radiation leak

Mayapuri Mayapuri Mayapuri Mayapuri IndsutrialIndsutrialIndsutrialIndsutrial waste catastrophewaste catastrophewaste catastrophewaste catastrophe

• What Really Happened In 2010

• The Gamma Cell Irradiator (GCI ) which contained Cobalt-60 was bought and brought to Mayapuri in the last week of February 2010. It was dismantled in the first week of March the same year in the Mayapuri scrap yard.

• It was bought in 1968 from Canada through the University Grants

Commission for professor B.K.Sharma’s research which was about the

effect of Gamma rays on compressed cyanide,” he told me. The GCI was lying unused since 1985 when professor Sharma retired

16-07-2019

13

Mayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastrophe

• In February 2010, a committee consisting of eight DU professors from the science department, among others, decided to auction the GCI. This was done without following the Atomic Energy Act

• The auction was held on February 26 and one Harcharan Singh bought it for Rs. 1.5 lakh.

• The GCI was dismantled in the Mayapuri scrap yard. The radioactive isotopes of Cobalt-60 were inside a shield of lead which was broken; the shields were necessary to contain the radiation. 4 pencils, 3 x gunny bags

• Everyone who saw the isotopes thought they were made of some mysterious and precious metal which will bring them a fortune

Mayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastrophe

• Some of these isotopes found their way to Deepak Jain and Ajay Jain, two scrap dealers of Mayapuri.

• Deepak put it in an almirah in his shop while Ajay put it in his wallet. In a month or so, they started losing hair, and had burns on their body parts due to radiation. This was accompanied by vomiting and fever.

• Deepak’s nephew Himanshu Jain was also affected by the radiation and was hospitalised for two months.

• He had to undergo 11 operations during a span of almost a year when he was admitted in the Gangaram Hospital in New Delhi,

• His mother expired during that period,possibly due to the stress and fear

16-07-2019

14

Mayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastropheMayapuri Industrial waste catastrophe

• A study conducted by Greenpeace found high levels of radiation in Mayapuri some years ago, despite the government ruling it out.

• Eight people were hospitalised in AIIMS as a result of radiation exposure, where one later died.

• The event was rated level 4 out of 7 on the International Nuclear Events Scale

Lessons learntLessons learntLessons learntLessons learnt

• Negligence of the management of the licencee

• Non-compliance with the National Regulations

• Unauthorized disposal of radiation source violating statute for safe disposal of radiation sources by the University

• An eye opener for users of radiation sources in the country and particularly the academic institutions, the regulatory body, other concerned agencies and the general public

• Verification and updating inventory of radiation sources being used in the country

• Spread of awareness on regulatory requirements by way of issuing notices through print media

• Training programmes on safe use and secure management of radiation sources

16-07-2019

15

WAYAHEADWAYAHEADWAYAHEADWAYAHEAD

• AWARENESS- 4R - REDUCE , REUSE, RECYCLE & RECOVER

• LAND FILL MANAGEMENT- INDORE CITY

• INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS- ONES BYE PRODUCT OR WASTE BECOMES SOMEONES RAW MATERIAL ( THE FERTILISERS & CHEMICAL PVT LTD PROVIDES GYPSUM TO NSS INDIA

• INCERNITION

• SMITH AND VANDIVER INC IN CALIFORNIA REUSES ITS BOXES, AND THUS SAVES BOTH SPACE & MONEY- $20,000 ON MATERIAL

• RECYCLING OF CONCRETE

16-07-2019

16

WAYAHEADWAYAHEADWAYAHEADWAYAHEAD

• ECO INDUSTRIAL PARKS (EIP) – WHERE BUSINESS CORPORATES WITH COMMUNITY REDUCES WASTE , Army ECO BATTALIONS ARE THERE

• THEY EFFICIENTLY SHARE RESOURCES SUCH AS INFO, MATERIAL, WATER ENERGY , INFRASTRUCTURE WITH INTENTION OF ECO GAINS AND IMPROVING ENVT QUALITY

• ROCK GARDEN CHANDIGARH & RAJASTHAN

• ONE HOUR “ DEH ( BODY ) KE LIYE , ONE HOUR DESH K LIYE”

• SYNERGISE WITH ARMY AUTHORTIES WE HAVE 130 MAJOR HOSPITALS, FIELD AMBULANCES, BFNAs

• PPE AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES

??