POINT LISAS PORT AND
INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
DISASTER RESPONSE
AMMONIA SPILL
Ammonia Inhalation
Immediate specialist medical attention
required
Short Term Exposure Limit is 35 ppm for
ten (10) minutes
500 ppm immediately dangerous to life
and health
Severe chemical burns (mucus
membrane, respiratory tract etc..) may
be life threatening if not treated correctly
in a timely manner
RESPONSIBILITIES
Port Manager
Alternate incident commander
 Initiates response  OC Marine
Management of
incident
Alternate Safety Officer
Safety Officer
 Emergency response  Security Manager
 Initiate relevant
safety resources
 Formulate rescue
teams
RESPONSIBILITIES
Officer in Charge, Marine
 All radio communications
Assistant Port Manager
 Evacuation of all
Personnel
 Coordination of all
vehicles for response
effort
Security Manager
 Traffic Management
 Security
Senior Customs Officer
 Assigned statutory
functions
ORGANISATION CHART
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
PLIPDECO PORT
Incident Commander
Port Manager
Public Relations
Media
Emergency Coord
Safety Officer
Evacuation
Asst Port Mgr
TTEMAS
Communication
OC Marine
Traffic Mgt/Security
Mgr Security
Other
Agencies
Customs
Snr Customs Officer
The Scenario
Ammonia Release - Savonetta Pier I
Date:
Time:
Location:
Activity:
Incident:
28 June 1996
1000 hours
Loading Terminal
Loading of an Ammonia Tanker
Release of high concentration of
Ammonia
Ammonia Release - SP I
Cause:
Malfunction of the loading arm end (coupling)
Loading Rate:
1,000 tonnes per hour
Duration of Release:
5 minutes
Quantity Released:
85 tonnes
Wind direction & speed: West to East at 10 mph
Areas Affected:
Port & Estate (Plants include TTMC, Arcadian,
Shell Lubricants), portion of California (residents
south of Gilbert Park)
Ammonia Release - SP I
Population at risk:
Port
Arcadian
Shell Lubricants
TTMC II
LCL /CES
California Gov’t School
California Residents
-
955
230
180
25
40
55
350
75
Ammonia Release - SP I
10:00
10:00:05
10:00:30
10:00:45
Loading arm uncoupled
Operator at SP I, Visual
observation of incident,
Calibrator Alarms at Control Rm
Operator, Control Room SP I,
sounds alarm button at Port,
Incident Commander alerted
Control Room monitors &
alerts Operator at Plant,
simultaneously initiating
TTEMAS Grid
Ammonia Release - SP I
10:01
10:04
10:05
Informs Ammonia Operator by
hand radio, Port Incident Commander
activates Emergency Response Team
Valve shut off at source
Lines free of NH3
Ammonia Release - SP I
Control Room Operator observes 3 employees
on pier overcome by Ammonia inhalation
Ammonia observed to be travelling over Port
heading eastwards
Observations relayed to Incident Commander
(Port Manager)
Casualties taken to first stage triage point
First Aiders report to triage area
All available vehicles report to triage area
Ammonia Release - Communication
TTEMAS Communication Grid initiated
by Operator’s radio call to NGC channel
Fire Services
Police
NEMA
Hospitals
PLIPDECO Senior Management
Key personnel at Estate Plants
Couva Regional Council
ALL MEDIA RELEASES VIA OFFICE
OF PLIPDECO PRO
Evacuation: Land & Sea
10:04 Land Evacuation of Port commences
supervised by Evacuation Coordinator
10:04 Sea Evacuation commences supervised by
Senior Tug Engineer
10:04 Evacuation/safety plans of individual
companies commences (Arcadian, Shell, TTMC II,
CES/LCL)
Emergency Traffic Management/Control Plan
Community evacuation plan by Regional
Corporation
10:13 Complete evacuation of Port and affected
areas on Point Lisas Estate
Estate Emergency Resources
Six (6) Ambulances owned and operated by
Tenants
Four (4) Tugs (2 fire fighting)
Six (6) Fire Tenders
Six (6) pickups, 2 maxis (37 person capacity)
Medical Services
Four (4) First Aid Stations
Two (2) On Call Doctors
Four (4) Nurses
Two (2) Paramedics
Forty (40) First Aiders
Report on Incident
Failure of loading arm equipment
3 persons died instantly at SP I
12 critically injured, 5 died while awaiting
treatment
Severe traffic congestion and accidents
Community not fully evacuated
Assessment
Communication:
no clear warning communicated to residents
visitors did not know how to respond to sirens/alarms
Emergency Response (Medical):
inadequate personal protective equipment
response time for medical attention inadequate
inadequate specialized medical personnel
inadequate triage equipment and facilities
Assessment
Emergency Response (Protective Services):
Inadequate training & equipment to handle industrial
emergencies
Evacuation
Community not evacuated in a timely manner
inadequate resources & training to evacuate
community
Traffic Management
Congestion at BC Roundabout affecting emergency
personnel required on the Estate, as well as persons
evacuated
Health Facility Response Comparison
COUVA SAN F'DO POSGH
MT HOPE
BASIC EMS
INADEQ
ADEQ
ADEQ
ADEQ
SPECIALIZED EMS
INADEQ
INADEQ
ADEQ
INADEQ
RESPONSE TIME
ADEQ
INADEQ
INADEQ
INADEQ
10 mins 25 mins 55 mins
35 mins
Recommendations
Communication: installation of sirens and
public address warning system for community
Develop & testing of emergency plan with
Community involvement
Public education for communities on
emergency response & evacuation procedures
Need for Off-site Emergency Command Centre
A Twenty Four (24) Hour Medical Facility
Providing General & Emergency Care Services
to Victims of Industrial Accidents
Recommendations
 Fire station built and fully equipped to handle
industrial incidents
 Highly specialized HAZMAT Team available to handle
industrial incidents
 Adequate personnel protective equipment for
employees
 Preventive maintenance plan for equipment
 Safety Orientation for visitors to Estate and Port
 Restrict access to Estate
Recommendations
Emergency traffic management/control
plan (removal of all traffic flow
impediments BC Roundabout and island
on SMR)
Periodic testing of Emergency Plans for
Estate and individual Plant