VIZAG GAS LEAK- A CASE STUDY ON THE UNCONTROLLED STYRENE VAPOUR RELEASE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA

Abstract

Industrial emergencies involving hazardous chemicals are not uncommon in India. During the last several decades there has been a growing awareness of the expanding risks and consequences of major industrial disasters. Industrial hazards can occur at any stage in the production process, including extraction, processing, manufacture, transportation, storage, use, and disposal. Losses generally involve the release of damaging substances (e.g. chemicals, radioacvity) or damaging levels of energy from industrial facilities or equipment into surrounding environments. This usually occurs in the form of explosions, fires, spills, leaks, or wastes. In a recent occurrence on the wee hours of 7th May 2020, an accident of uncontrolled release of Styrene vapor occurred at LG Polymers India Pvt. Ltd. (LG Polymers) in RR Venkatapuram Village, Visakhapatnam from one of the Styrene storage tanks. The hazardous Styrene vapors spread beyond the factory premises, affecting the populace of five villages / habitations. The officials from the District administration along with Police Department, GVMC, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local people rushed to the spot for rescue operations. However, the grave accident led to 12 citizens losing their lives and 585 citizens being hospitalized. In this regard let’s take a brief look into the causes of the accident which led to this grave mishap. KEYWORDS: Vizag gas leak, styrene vapour, MSIHC 1989, Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR), Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS), Process safety management.