A Synopsis of Disaster Management
and Lessons Learnt on the Point
Lisas Industrial Estate
Deenesh Persad
Manager HSE
PLIPDECO
Trinidad and Tobago
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Sizable reserves of
Petroleum and Natural
Gas
Largest world exporter of
Ammonia
Largest World exporter of
methanol
Largest heavy
petrochemical complex in
Caribbean Region
 Trinidad & Tobago
Point Lisas Industrial Estate
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World Class Petrochemical and Industrial Park (1200
Ha in size)
Industrial center of Trinidad and Tobago > 3 Billion
USD invested in Plant and Equipment
9 Producing Ammonia facilities, 1 under construction,
(2 proposed) 1 urea facility
5 methanol producing facilities, 2 under construction
1 Iron and steel facility
1 natural gas processing facility
1 chlorine facility
1 iron carbide, 1 Hot briqueted iron facility
2 Power generation facility
1 Desalination facility
Point Lisas Industrial Estate
Chemical Emergencies
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Ammonia release (manufacture, storage,
transportation)
Chlorine Release (manufacture, storage, transportation)
Methanol fire (manufacture, storage, transportation)
Natural Gas Fire/ explosion
BLEVE (propane,butane, natural gasoline)
Chemical disaster spurned by Natural Disaster
Terrorism
Domino type incidents
Populations at Risk
Couva (immediate)
 Over 30,000 residents
 Villages border the Industrial Estate
15 Mile radius (> 100, 000 )
Point Lisas Industrial Estate
 Over 6,000 highly skilled employees
 Over 1,000 workers providing direct services to
the Estate
 Over 6,000 people providing indirect services
to the Estate
Managing Risks
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Regulatory requirement - Hazard and Consequence
Scoping/ Risk Assessments
Facility Emergency Response Plans
Annual facility Drills/ Industrial Estate Response Drills
Emergency Mutual Aid Scheme (TTEMAS)
Monitoring sensors & Emergency sirens
Parent Co safety policies and audits
PLIPDECO lease requirements
 Siting policy ( process and risk evaluation)
 World Bank Guidelines
 Safety committees
Trinidad and Tobago Emergency
Mutual Aid Scheme (TTEMAS)s
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Industrial mutual aid organization (Industry
and Governmental Disaster Agencies)
Coordinating role for mobilization of
resources
Established June 1983
Incorporated by Parliament, Act No.8 of 2000
NGO
Approximately 45 members
Annual Drills
Reasons for Establishment
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Type & nature of plants
Nature of materials handled
Potential exposure of personnel & evacuation
Community responsibility
Absence of fully equipped civil emergency
response capability
TTEMAS - Mission
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Development of appropriate safety culture
Emergency response capability for critical
incidents
Sharing of experiences
Information sharing & updates
Sharing of experiences
Articulate common position on national issues
involving safety & the environment
Planning & conduct of emergency drills &
exercises
Continuity of operations
Training & development
Disaster Emergency Simulations
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1989 Ammonia Release
1993 Natural Gas and Chlorine Release
1994 Methanol Release, Fire/Explosion
1995 Butane Release
1995 Aircraft Crash
1996 Toxic Gas Release
1997 Pipeline Emergency Drill
1997 Chemical Release (Transportation Accident)
1998 Methanol Release/Fire – Savonetta Pier
1999 Ammonia Release – Savonetta Pier
2000 Pipeline Emergency Drill – Port of Spain
2001 Natural Gas Release (Plant Fire)
2002 – Methanol Release and Fire – Savonetta Pier #1&2
Lessons Learnt
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Industry and government must ensure that risks of
industrial/man made disasters are minimized through
enactment and enforcement of appropriate legislation,
safe operating procedures, and adoption of relevant
industry codes and best practices.
Ensure Emergency Response Plans and Procedures are
developed, tested at least annually, reviewed/revised
and communicated to all the stakeholders.
Ensure the availability of adequate dedicated
emergency communications for early warning, request
for assistance/ communications .
Lesson Learnt
 Conduct frequent radio communications emergency exercises
based on a documented Radio Communications Protocol.
 Standardize terminology used to identify key emergency
management groups and personnel. (emergency coordinator,
on scene commander, site controller are currently used to
describe the same function in different companies).
 Ensure the availability of alternate designated Incident
Command Posts, equipped to the required standard.
 Ensure availability of incident command kits, equipped with
identification vests, flags, organization charts, maps, plot
plans, etc.
Lessons Learnt
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Where there is the potential for the release of toxic gases and
other contaminants, ensure provisions for measuring and
controlling, early warning and shelter in place and / or safe
evacuation procedures.
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Categorization of accidents/ incidents according to level of
response required (Levels I – IV)
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Detailed call-down procedures with roles and responsibilities
clearly defined
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No effective system for informing Communities exists at present
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Some Statutory Authorities not fully aware of its role in ensuring
public safety for chemical emergencies
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Tendency of first responders (in drills) to ‘rush into the scene
without proper briefing or doning of equipment)
Lesson Learnt
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Ensure attention is paid to the effective management of the
media. The preparation of media kits to provide easily
accessible background information on the distressed plant,
etc
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Conduct more frequent tabletop emergency response
exercises and drills as a prelude to the staging of full-scale
emergency exercises.
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Establish and maintain close liaison with potential
responders.
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Develop and implement a Community Awareness
Emergency Response (CAER) program to include the
training of members of the community.
Lessons Learnt
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Identify locations for Triage, Staging Areas,
Advanced Medical Posts, Collection Points, Field
Control Centers etc, well in advance.
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Ensure maintenance of written records of all
resources (including personnel) that are entering and
/ or leaving Staging and Triage Areas, etc.
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Develop aide memoirs to assist Emergency
Response Groups and personnel in the discharge of
their duties.
Lessons Learnt
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Communities not sufficiently informed or prepared.
Emergencies (chemical release, fire, explosion hazard)
require different actions (evacuation, safe shelter) –
need for effective early warning system
No chemical shelters in vulnerable communities
Regulatory/ statutory authorities in need of training in
first response (Haz. Materials)
Medical facilities inadequately equipped and have
insufficiently trained staff for dealing with mass
casualties (chemical/ burns)
Community Awareness and Emergency Response
Lessons Learnt
 Community distrust difficult to overcome – lack of
community/ industry relationship
 Pyramid of needs (employment etc…..) emergency
awareness and preparedness low in agenda
 Governmental/ regulatory bodies unwilling to meet
with communities after hours/ weekends - fuelling
distrust
 Political influences
 Poor developmental planning
Community Awareness and Emergency Response
– Modeled against APELL/ Responsible Care
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Build relationship between Community/ Industry
Ensure community are informed and know what to do
Community activity sponsorship/ involvement
improves on transmitting the message and maintaining
interest in the programme
Drama has been effective in transmitting the message
School partnership has been effective
 Support school projects
 Fire Extinguishers/ safe haven construction/ ERP
Development/ Drills
 Teacher Training Programme
 School Competitions
Community Awareness and Emergency Response
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Community Risk Assessment and
placement of early warning system
 Community Sirens/ Early Warning
 Community Radio
 Drill Participation
 Governmental Authorities informed and
aware of their roles and responsibilities
Parting Thoughts
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Industry has wide experience base and knowledge
in preventing/ predicting mass-casualty accidents
Must ensure communities are fully aware and
prepared for emergencies
Ensure proper infrastructure in installed (sirens/
early warning/ medical)
Must ensure communities are fully in tune with
developments and must maintain interest
Governmental Agencies must be appropriately
trained for first response/ managing emergencies
Test test test – next best to reality
Thank You……Questions????