Bao’an takes strict action against \"environmentally harmful oils\": 13 restaurant owners detained in two days

Thread Content

Recently, the Fire Supervision and Management Team of Bao’an Public Security Bureau launched a special rectification campaign to conduct thorough inspections and rectifications of sites that produce, store, and use \"environmentally friendly oil\" in violation of regulations. During the operations on November 30 and December 1 alone, fire police officers discovered that 13 restaurants in the area were storing and using \"environmentally friendly oil\" illegally; more than 2,530 liters of such oil were seized. The 13 managers of these 13 restaurants were each sentenced to 5 days of administrative detention. From November 30 to December 1, the Fanshen Police Station of Bao’an Public Security Bureau and the Haiyu Community Workstation in Xinnan Sub-district conducted inspections of 9 restaurants in residential complexes such as Jincheng Times Home within their respective jurisdictions, based on previous risk assessment efforts. It was found that all 9 restaurants had storage tanks installed on their rooftops or in the ceilings of their kitchens. Upon verification, these storage tanks contain \"environment-friendly oil\". At the scene, the fire police seized over 2,100 liters of \"environment-friendly oil\" in total. Of this amount, more than 800 liters were found in two large tanks stored above the kitchen of a snack shop located in Area N2 of the Jincheng Times Residence in the central area of Xinan Sub-district, Bao’an District. The fire police officer explained that the main component of \"environmentally friendly oil\" is methanol, which belongs to the category of materials prone to fire; it can easily catch fire or explode when exposed to heat sources or open flames. These \"environmentally friendly oils\" are used as fuel by these illegal restaurants; the oil storage tanks are located next to sources of fire, and these restaurants are situated beneath residential buildings. In the event of an oil leak or similar incident, it could lead to fires or explosions, posing serious fire safety risks. Fire enforcement officers from the Fanshen Police Station summoned orally, in accordance with the law, the 9 managers of these 9 restaurants to the station for investigation. During the interrogation, Fan and Lu, along with 7 other restaurant owners, admitted to the crime of illegally storing flammable and explosive hazardous materials. The police imposed a penalty of five days’ administrative detention on these 9 individuals in accordance with the law. Coincidentally. On November 30, fire officers from the Xixiang Police Station also discovered that four food establishments, including a particular type of street food stall, in the Longzhu Community, Mabu Community, Lequn Community, and Mabu Yongfeng Community within their jurisdiction were storing and using \"environmentally friendly oil\" illegally. A total of 430 liters of such oil was seized, and the four managers of these restaurants were each placed under administrative detention for 5 days. The Fire Supervision and Management Team of the Bao’an Public Security Bureau will continue to carry out special campaigns against the use of \"environmentally harmful oils\" throughout the district, taking various measures to crack down on the illegal storage and handling of hazardous chemicals ； Any illegal activities that are discovered will be subject to investigation and prosecution; a zero-tolerance policy with strict law enforcement will be applied throughout the process, to the end, in order to prevent safety accidents and ensure stability in the fire safety situation within the jurisdiction. Tip: What is an “environmentally friendly oil”? “\"Eco-friendly oil\" is so named because its pollution levels such as smoke, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides after combustion meet environmental standards. Since this oil does not blacken the bottom of the pot when burned, it does not contaminate the body or equipment, makes it easier to clean the burners, and simplifies the repair and maintenance of equipment, restaurants, as well as some hotels and schools use this \"environmentally friendly oil\" as fuel. In fact, \"environment-friendly oil\" is a formulated liquid that falls under the category of hazardous chemicals; it is generally made up of 95% methanol, with certain proportions of flammable liquid fuels such as ethanol and gasoline added to it. Its flash point is around 28°C, and it may be colorless or pale yellow in color, with an irritating odor. “What are the hazards of \"environment-friendly oil\"? “\"Eco-friendly oil\" is flammable and volatile; its vapors can form explosive mixtures with air, and it can catch fire and explode when exposed to open flames or high heat. A chemical reaction that occurs upon contact with an oxidizer can also cause combustion. In a fire, heated containers pose a risk of explosion. Its vapor is heavier than air, allowing it to spread over considerable distances at lower levels; when it comes into contact with a fire source, it can catch fire and cause backdrafts, leading to safety accidents. Furthermore, \"environmentally friendly oils\" are primarily made of methanol, which is a toxin of moderate hazard; it can cause damage to the central nervous system, respiratory tract, optic nerve, etc. Long-term use of such oils can harm the health of food service workers and consumers. At present, there are no specific technical specifications for the safe use of \"environmentally friendly oils\". Using \"environment-friendly oil\" in crowded places is more dangerous. As a formulated liquid, it is flammable and volatile, and can easily cause harm to the human body. “\"Eco-friendly oil\" is generally composed of methanol mixed with flammable substances such as gasoline; it has a flash point of around 28°C, is highly flammable and explosive. Prolonged exposure to these burning gases can cause symptoms of poisoning such as headaches and fatigue in humans. Therefore, using \"environmentally friendly oil\" in crowded urban areas poses a higher risk. The Fire Supervision and Management Team of Bao’an Public Security Bureau advises the following regarding the precautions for dismantling equipment used for handling eco-friendly oil (methanol solution): 1. For the storage tanks (barrels) containing eco-friendly oil, fill them with tap water first and let it stand for about 1 to 2 hours so that any remaining methanol in the tanks can dissolve completely. Then, transfer the resulting mixture through pipes into iron barrels for further environmental treatment along the Dongjiang River. 2. Use a portable combustible gas concentration alarm to detect the concentrations inside the tank being removed as well as at the site ； If the combustible gas concentration alarm triggers, the storage tank must be cleaned again in accordance with the above requirements until it meets the operational specifications. 3. Open flames are strictly prohibited during on-site demolition; rusted flange screws and pipes should be cut off using a hand saw, and water should be sprayed during the sawing process to eliminate sparks and cool the saw blade. 4. Explosion-proof lighting fixtures should be used at the work site, and explosion-proof exhaust fans should be employed if exhaust systems are used. 5. Sparks are strictly prohibited at the work site. 6. The work site shall be equipped with sufficient dry powder fire extinguishers and dry sand (use dry sand to clean up the environmental-friendly oil mixture at the site, and collect the treated sand mixture for environmental disposal).