KOCHI, February 14, 2018 01:31 IST
Updated: February 14, 2018 12:48 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...n-ongc-ship/article22746460.ece?homepage=true
The accident killed five workers — C.S. Unnikrishnan, M.V. Kannan, Gevin Reji, Jayan K.B., and M.M. Ramshad
The “tendency to bypass safety procedures and the overconfidence of workers” might have triggered
Tuesday’s in the Cochin Shipyard, suggests a preliminary probe undertaken by safety experts, according to officials of the Department of Factories and Boilers, which investigates industrial accidents. Five workers were killed in the blast and fire.
The safety culture had improved over the years in industrial units and firms due to inspections and audit by safety teams. Still, there was the possibility that workers or contractors bypassed safety norms, leading to the accident, said a senior official of the department.
Department director P. Pramod, who was among those who inspected the ship’s compartment where the blast took place, told
The Hindu that it appeared that a huge “blast wave” occurred due to a momentary explosion since multiple compartments were affected.
Stored for welding work
“A preliminary inspection points to a leak in the huge quantity of acetylene that was being stored [for welding work]. It is inflammable in the 3% to 100% range [meaning it triggers an explosion even when oxygen is absent],” he said.
Workers generally took away the cutting torch made of brass (used for welding) after night work, since it was costly. They then wrapped and closed or sealed the rubber tube. A leak could happen if the tube was improperly closed, he noted.
Quoting workers,
Mr. Pramod said that one of them left (the compartment) after smelling acetylene. “They said the explosion occurred just as he was returning to the place. It is possible that the explosion occurred as welding began in the vicinity, using another cutting torch.”
Speaking of the after-effect of the explosion caused by acetylene, he said toxic gases are formed when the compound (comprising carbon and hydrogen) burns. “This often leads to oxygen being displaced, causing death by suffocation. A detailed probe report is awaited in three days, after conducting more inspections, going through findings in the post-mortem report and speaking to more workers, contractor and the vessel’s owner.”
Probe team
A team led by a joint director and chemical Inspector of the department were conducting the probe. Arun V.K., Resident joint director based at the shipyard, said workers and supervisors at the yard were highly skilled and had years of experience. “Moreover, they are briefed daily on safety and related aspects. A detailed probe will throw light on what led to the blast,” Mr. Pramod added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...d-to-focus-more-on-safety/article22745512.ece
The yard was on a high, riding a wave of success to put in place its ambitious growth plans
It was in 1994 that two workers lost their lives in a freak fire outbreak at the Cochin Shipyard. It was the last major industrial accident reported from the yard until a flash of fire, ostensibly caused by leakage of oxygen or acetylene used for steel cutting/welding, doused the lives of five workers on board an oil rig under repair on Tuesday.
“The only other fire-related incident happened in 2006 when during welding at the hull shop, a splinter caused a fatality,” recalled an official. The yard made major strides during this period, consistently making profits and getting prestigious orders like that of the indigenous aircraft carrier .
“Safety has always remained the buzzword and stringent safety standards and drills have been in place. We give mandatory safety drills to all our workmen, directly contracted workers and those contracted through external agencies. There was a fireman on board Sagar Bhushan
when the blast occurred. Moments earlier, there was a call to the safety office reporting suspected leakage of gas at the air-condition plant in the nearby compartment. But there was no time and the first to come out after the blast had splinter injuries,” Madhu S. Nair, chairman and managing director of the shipyard, said.
Procedures demand that a permit is obtained from the yard’s safety office for hot works on the vessel besides another permit for working in enclosed space. In
the case of Sagar Bhushan, Mr. Nair said both had been obtained on Tuesday as well. He also ruled out the sabotage angle. “I have no clear answer to why it happened, but it was very bad,” he said.
The biggest accident on its campus that has won accolades for high safety standards has shaken the confidence of officials and workers. “Our priority was to be with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident,” Mr. Nair added. Officials, however, maintain that while there is no clarity on when work on Sagar Bhushan whose bulkheads suffered some damage in the blast will be resumed, the incident will cast a shadow on the other works going on in the yard.
“After the success of the IPO, the yard was on a high, riding a wave of success to put in place its ambitious growth plans. Projects such as a new, larger drydock, outstation repair facilities and an international ship repair facility in Kochi itself were being fast-tracked. But the accident has now put the focus on an immediate safety and fire safety audit. First of all, we will have to zero in on what caused Tuesday’s accident. It’s a tough call, but we should bring back the culture of safety,” a member of the yard’s enquiry committee told
The Hindu.
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/659428/centre-seeks-report-csl-shipyard.html
The Centre on Wednesday sought a report from the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on the explosion and fire on an under repair ONGC drill ship, which claimed five lives.
Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan visited the shipyard on Wednesday morning and took stock of the situation on board "SagarBhushan," a day after the ONGC ship was hit by the explosion while it was undergoing repair.
"The Hon'ble Minister instructed CSL to conduct a thorough investigation and ascertain the root cause and report the details to Ministry of Shipping," a CSL statement said here.
Talking to reporters, the minister said there was an explosion but there was no sign of fire inside the ship.
He said the CSL has begun a high-level internal inquiry into the incident. Technical investigations are being carried out by DG Shipping and Factories and Boilers Department.
"Police is also taking all steps.. after the enquiry only we can find out the reasons for the explosion," the minister said, after visiting those who injured in a hospital here.
In a statement, the CSL had said five people died and seven were injured in the incident.
The minister appreciated the efforts taken by the CSL management in reaching out to the families of the deceased and also for promptly announcing the ex gratia compensation to their kith and kin.
He also enquired about the condition of those undergoing treatment and promised full support from the ministry of shipping in the company's endeavours to help them and their families, the CSL release said.
During the interaction with the unions and associations, Radhakrishnan and the Chairman and Managing Director of the CSL, Madhu S Nair promised adequate support to all the affected families.
"The employees also appreciated the management for a positive and prompt response in the aftermath of the accident. The supervisory association expressed their appreciation for the remarkable and quick rescue operation and the presence of all senior executives on the spot without delay," the statement said.
Principal Officer (I/C) Mercantile Marine Department under the DG Shipping, Ajithkumar Sukumaran said its investigation will cover all aspects, including lapses that had occurred in conducting mandatory safety and security checks before commencing the repairing job.
