News/India/6 dead and 5 injured in Andhra Pradesh steel plant gas leak

6 dead and 5 injured in Andhra Pradesh steel plant

gas leak

HIGHLIGHTS
 Accident took place at Gerdau Steel India Limited

 Injured persons were rushed to hospital

 Gerdau is a leading producer of long steel in the USA
Image for representation. (Photo: Reuters)
At least six workers died and five others were in critical condition after some
poisonous gas leaked in a steel plant in Tadepatri division of Anantapur district,
Andhra Pradesh.
The steel plant where the accident took place is Gerdau Steel India Limited.
Emergency personnel were rushed to the site of the accident and the injured have
been taken to hospital.
Gerdau is a leading producer of long steel in the USA and one of the largest
suppliers of special steel in the world. It has industrial operations in 14 countries
in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Gerdau's Indian steel plant is situated at

Carbon Monoxide Gas – Stop Gas Leakage Before Stops You. Kill Fire Before Kills you. Dr. T. Yogeswara Page 1
Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh and has an installed capacity of 3 lakh tons of steel
production per year.
Corrective and Preventive Actions – Emergency Preparedness

1. Ensure the following safety measures

1.1 that all Seal Pots are filled with Water
1.2 Personnel working in gases area shall have personal CO Detector and
user should have knowledge about this instrument.
1.3 paired persons are to be engaged for any maintenance activities
1.4 Must have SCBA-Self Contained Breathing Apparatus if anyone is
engaged in maintenance activities.
1.5 OXY-PAC should be readily available for First Aid Treatment
1.6 Only trained persons are to be engaged
1.7 Working personnel must have breakfast / lunch before starting the
work. The CO Gas reactivity is very fast in empty stomach
1.8 Carbon Monoxide Gas catches fire soon it leaks. So, no hot work
nearby area.
1.9 Permit to Work System shall be strictly followed.
1.10 Trained personnel are to be engaged.
2. Preventive Measures
2.1 Periodically measure the Gas line thickness by competent person
2.2 Provide the Line Detectors wherever it is possible so as to be sensed
by the Gas Detectors.
2.3 The Gas Lines are to be protected from moving machineries like
Tippers, Truck, Cranes, Hydra, Farhana, Earthmoving Equipment.
2.4 Gas lines are to be protected from Heat by providing the Heat Shield
where Liquid Metal handled underneath of the lines
2.5 Provide ABC / Monex Fire Extinguishers handy
2.6 No Smoking Boards are to be displayed at all U-Seals
2.7 All Seal Pots are to be fenced to avoid unauthorized entry into the
Seal Pot Area for misuse of water.

Carbon Monoxide Gas – Stop Gas Leakage Before Stops You. Kill Fire Before Kills you. Dr. T. Yogeswara Page 2
 2.8 Display the Danger Sign as TOXIC GAS – KEEP AWAY
2.9 Test the environment before starting any hot work
2.10 Provide BLIND for any ISOLATION. Do NOT Trust Valve.
2.11 Follow the Isolation of Energy (LOTO) strictly
2.12 Educate / Train the employees periodically to create Toxic Gas Safety
Awareness.
3. Emergency Preparedness
3.1 The Shop-Floor First Aiders should be available in each shift.
3.2 Trained First Aiders Photos, Tel-Phone / Mobile Nos are to be
displayed at prominent locations for easy to contact.
3.3 The Search and Rescue Teams are to be trained and readily available
in case of any exigency.
3.4 Well Equipped Ambulance – Medical Oxygen Cylinders, trained driver
having C0-Monitors should be present round the clock.
3.5 The Wind Socks are to be provided to understand the down stream
and upstream directions
3.6 The Self Contained Breathing Apparatus / Closed Set Oxygen Sets are
to be well maintained in Control Rooms.
3.7 Occupational Health Centre should be well equipped with Oxgen
Generators / Oxygen Sets.
4. First Aid Measures
4.1 Shift the affected persons to upstream wind to have fresh air.
4.2 Relax the affected person – loose the cloth and remove the shoes
4.3 Provide the Oxygen to affected persons using the OxyPAC
4.4 First Aid Technique should be applied as advised by the Doctors
4.5 Shift the affected persons by Ambulance nearest OHC / Medical
Centre for higher medical management.

5. Probable Cause:
The Root cause is yet to be ascertained.

Carbon Monoxide Gas – Stop Gas Leakage Before Stops You. Kill Fire Before Kills you. Dr. T. Yogeswara Page 3