Based on the analysis of the maintenance accident in Yantai Industrial Park, what should be done to ensure the safety of the workers?
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It is currently the peak season for maintenance of production facilities. Based on an analysis of maintenance accidents in the Yantai Industrial Park, what measures should be taken to ensure the safety of the workers? Accidents occur, big or small; those in positions of authority are merely punished, while it are the frontline employees who suffer physical and personal harm. How can true safety be achieved? It happened right after the festival; what a huge blow that must be for a family!
The maintenance accident at Yantai Industrial Park – let’s share some information about it. What kind of accident was it?
At 17:22 on September 20, 2016, during the annual planned shutdown for maintenance of the MDI plant at Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.’s Yantai industrial park, a 12-cubic-meter intermediate buffer tank containing crude M product exploded, resulting in injuries to 8 workers. The injured were promptly taken to hospitals for treatment; 4 of them died despite efforts to save them (3 died on the 20th and 1 died in the early hours of the 21st), while the remaining 4 are in stable condition. According to on-site inspections, the accident did not cause pollution to the surrounding environment, and no secondary disasters occurred at the site. Following the accident, the company immediately activated its emergency response plan, made every effort to provide treatment for the injured, and handled the aftermath of the incident properly. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and the company will fulfill its disclosure obligations in a timely manner as the investigation progresses.
The rush to complete maintenance work, along with the failure to effectively remove and isolate materials from equipment and pipelines, are factors that contribute to frequent accidents
There is no report on whether any hot work was carried out; performing maintenance involving hot work is also highly risky
Analyze the equipment maintenance tasks, eliminate potential hazards, and implement protective measures
From the perspective of frontline operators alone: 1. It is necessary to be aware of the risks present during the work process, as well as the protective measures that should be taken while working； 2. Study the operation procedures for relevant positions carefully ； Strictly follow the standard operating procedures during tasks ； 3. Identify potential safety hazards in work in a timely manner and raise concerns promptly ； 4. Before starting the task, think about: what is the purpose of the task, what risks exist during its execution, and whether the necessary protective measures are in place ； Do I have mastery of this task, and are there any other hazardous factors in the working environment? ； 5. Be brave enough to say no to illegal instructions
Wanhua is a leading company in the MDI industry; it’s really a shame that such a thing has happened.
Companies must place emphasis on this from top to bottom! The local authorities **have the responsibility and duty to enforce these rules, and they should be willing to use a veto power; by making violations costly, companies will think twice before acting illegally. If only fines are imposed, companies will have to weigh the risks involved against the cost of paying those fines.
Safety first. Wanhua does a pretty good job in terms of safety. It’s a shame, though, that everything has to be taken into account
The eight-ticket operation system must be strictly implemented; only by dealing with those who violate regulations during operations in accordance with the law can the intended preventive effect be achieved