A letter received by the boss of a chemical company after the explosion in Tianjin

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On August 12, an explosion occurred at the hazardous materials warehouse of Ruihai Company in Binhai New Area, Tianjin, resulting in numerous casualties and significant property losses. Following the accident, Jiangbei immediately held a meeting to advance the special campaign for identifying and addressing potential hazards in key industry sectors, with the aim of thoroughly eliminating major safety risks. 　　So, what are the specific things that relevant companies need to pay attention to during the production process? 　　Yesterday, a message titled “A Letter from a Frontline Safety Inspector to the Boss of a Chemical Company after the Explosion in Tianjin” posted on the official WeChat account of Jiangbei Safety Supervision went viral. It contains five suggestions for the leaders in the chemical industry, and is worth reading. The original text is reproduced below: After the explosion in Tianjin, a grassroots safety inspector sent a letter to the chemical industry boss. Dear Boss,
I hope this letter finds you well! 　　I am a frontline safety regulator; I have been working in **chemicals regulation for eight years. Over these eight years, we may have met countless times, but this is the first time I am writing to you! 　　I understand the difficulties you face as a chemical industry manager, and you too understand the challenges involved in ensuring safe production. To be honest, over the past few years, safety awareness in enterprises has been continuously improving from **. But when faced with numerous standards and regulations, you often hear about them a lot but know little about them in practice; when leading inspections for safe production, you don’t even know where to start. 　　The explosion accident in Tianjin serves as a warning to us. Drawing on my own work experience, I would like to summarize several safety inspection methods for you, Boss. While expressing our sorrow for the victims of the Tianjin explosion, we also hope to use this incident as an opportunity for reflection and caution. Although we don’t know when misfortune might strike first, we can strive to make the most of today. ↓↓↓↓↓ First point: This report must be read! 　　All **chemical companies have a ‘safety assessment report’, and this report is tailored specifically for your company. As a business boss, you must read this report! 　　It basically covers the risks and countermeasures pertaining to your enterprise. In particular, what are the risks associated with each manufacturing process? What is the maximum quantity of hazardous materials that can be stored in the warehouse, and what are the storage conditions? What factors from the external environment affect your security? What is the safe distance from surrounding residents, factories, etc.? What type of incident is most likely to occur: explosion, leakage, poisoning, or something else? How to take immediate emergency measures... Conducting inspections based on the report is efficient and targeted. Reminder: The **Regulations on the Safe Management of Chemicals** stipulate that safety assessment reports must be prepared every three years and filed with the local county or district safety supervision agency. If there are changes in the company’s production processes, product types or capacity, storage capabilities, overall layout, or the surrounding environment, a new safety assessment must be conducted promptly. Second point: This box is a must! 　　This “emergency rescue kit” isn’t meant for storing gauze or band-aids. 　　It contains the general layout plan of your company, the map showing the areas designated for explosions, the specific types of chemicals used in production or storage along with the measures to be taken for each type, as well as the emergency contact numbers for the local police, fire department, safety supervision authorities, health services, and other relevant agencies. 　　These are all meant for on-site life-saving measures. I know you certainly wouldn’t want our brave rescuers to rush in blindly. 　　Place it at the gatekeeper’s location, as gatekeepers are generally far from the production areas and represent the first point where responders arrive at the scene. As a boss, what you can do better is to put these items in your car, as well as those of your safety manager and vice president – it’s never a bad idea to have extra backups. Go and check quickly whether your company’s security guard has put it there Reminder: The emergency rescue kit includes: the enterprise’s overall layout plan, maps showing the areas affected by explosions, a list of **chemical substances, an emergency rescue plan, and maps of the surrounding area. Third point: These lines must be drawn! 　　Most **chemical manufacturers generate pressure during their production processes, and pressure gauges (instruments) generally have their own warning ranges. In practice, it is common for regional warnings to be unclear, or for the lines to fade over time. 　　In this case, the corresponding pressure warning lines can be drawn again on the pipes outside the pressure gauge using red paint, with the maximum (minimum) pressure values indicated. In this way, workers can more clearly determine whether there is a risk of overpressure or insufficient pressure while operating. 　　Additionally, it is advisable to have multiple pressure gauges available, so that when one needs to be sent for inspection, another can be used, thereby avoiding delays in production due to the use of pressure gauges that have passed their inspection deadline. Simple and practical. Reminder: When the pressure in the pressure vessel reaches 1 kilogram (0.1 MPa), the vessel itself as well as its gauges and other accessories must pass inspection before they can be used. In accordance with the \"Regulations on Safety Inspection of Pressure Vessels,\" the inspection cycles for pressure vessels are as follows: 1. External inspection: Regular on-site inspections while the pressure vessel is in operation, at least once a year. 2 Internal and external inspections: Conducted when the pressure vessel is shut down. Its inspection cycle is as follows: for those with a safety status rating of 1 or 2, inspections must be carried out at least once every 6 years ； For those with a safety level of 3, it is required at least once every 3 years. PS: The general period for the first internal and external inspection of a pressure vessel after it is put into use is 3 years. Fourth point: These people must be controlled! 　　Boss, you might often find yourself entrusting other construction firms or personnel with equipment installation, construction, and maintenance tasks. Before entering the factory, these individuals should receive safety training to be informed about the risks associated with their tasks and the surrounding area. It is absolutely not allowed for unqualified persons to carry out work in the factory; a safety responsibility agreement must be signed with their employer or individual supervisor. Factory safety personnel should also be assigned to monitor them at all times to ensure proper safety during construction. If these aren’t done, well, you know, Boss – if an accident happens, it will be counted on you. Reminder: Article 46 of the Work Safety Law stipulates that production and business operation entities shall not subcontract or lease their production and business operations, premises, or equipment to entities or individuals that do not meet the work safety requirements or possess the necessary qualifications. 　　When production and operation projects or premises are contracted out or leased to other entities, the production and operation unit shall enter into a separate agreement on work safety management with the contracting or leasing entity, or specify their respective responsibilities for work safety management in the contract or lease agreement ； Production and operation units shall provide unified coordination and management of the work related to safety production by subcontracted and leased units, conduct regular safety inspections, and promptly urge rectification in case of any safety issues identified. Fifth point: These funds cannot be saved! 　　Money for employees’ personal protective equipment must not be cut corners on; nor should it be replaced with cash just because the employees ask for it, denying them access to such protective equipment. 　　Within a company, it is essential to have complete sets of detectors and alarms for flammable and toxic gases, fire-fighting equipment, explosion-proof electrical appliances, etc.; safety production liability insurance is also indispensable. Spending this small amount of money is to make big profits; the boss must keep this in mind. 　　When installing detectors for flammable and toxic gases as well as explosion-proof equipment, it must be done by professional personnel from the manufacturer, and payment should be made only after proper calibration. The specific number of installations can be determined based on the recommendations provided in the safety measures section of the safety assessment report. When purchasing these devices, please choose qualified manufacturers. Reminder: If it is possible to avoid using electrical devices such as lighting in areas where flammable and explosive materials are stored, then it is best not to connect them to the power supply. This not only saves money on explosion-proof electrical equipment but also enhances safety. 　　I’m not an expert either, let alone someone with extensive practical experience. If you find this useful, please share it with more bosses. Lastly, I just want to say that as long as you are safe and well, everything is fine. 　　Wishing you all the best! A frontline safety inspector, 8/18/2015