A Synopsis of Disaster Management and Lessons Learnt on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate

1. A Synopsis of Disaster Management and Lessons Learnt on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate Deenesh Persad Manager HSE PLIPDECO

2. Trinidad and Tobago • Sizable reserves of Petroleum and Natural Gas • Largest world exporter of Ammonia • Largest World exporter of methanol • Largest heavy petrochemical complex in Caribbean Region • Trinidad & Tobago

3. Point Lisas Industrial Estate • World Class Petrochemical and Industrial Park (1200 Ha in size) • Industrial center of Trinidad and Tobago > 3 Billion USD invested in Plant and Equipment • 9 Producing Ammonia facilities, 1 under construction, (2 proposed) 1 urea facility • 5 methanol producing facilities, 2 under construction • 1 Iron and steel facility • 1 natural gas processing facility • 1 chlorine facility • 1 iron carbide, 1 Hot briqueted iron facility • 2 Power generation facility • 1 Desalination facility

4. Point Lisas Industrial Estate

5. Chemical Emergencies • Ammonia release (manufacture, storage, transportation) • Chlorine Release (manufacture, storage, transportation) • Methanol fire (manufacture, storage, transportation) • Natural Gas Fire/ explosion • BLEVE (propane,butane, natural gasoline) • Chemical disaster spurned by Natural Disaster • Terrorism • Domino type incidents

6. Populations at Risk Couva (immediate) • Over 30,000 residents • Villages border the Industrial Estate 15 Mile radius (> 100, 000 ) Point Lisas Industrial Estate • Over 6,000 highly skilled employees • Over 1,000 workers providing direct services to the Estate • Over 6,000 people providing indirect services to the Estate

7. Managing Risks • Regulatory requirement - Hazard and Consequence Scoping/ Risk Assessments • Facility Emergency Response Plans • Annual facility Drills/ Industrial Estate Response Drills • Emergency Mutual Aid Scheme (TTEMAS) • Monitoring sensors & Emergency sirens • Parent Co safety policies and audits • PLIPDECO lease requirements • Siting policy ( process and risk evaluation) • World Bank Guidelines • Safety committees

8. Trinidad and Tobago Emergency Mutual Aid Scheme (TTEMAS)s • Industrial mutual aid organization (Industry and Governmental Disaster Agencies) • Coordinating role for mobilization of resources • Established June 1983 • Incorporated by Parliament, Act No.8 of 2000 • NGO • Approximately 45 members • Annual Drills

9. Reasons for Establishment • Type & nature of plants • Nature of materials handled • Potential exposure of personnel & evacuation • Community responsibility • Absence of fully equipped civil emergency response capability

10. TTEMAS - Mission • Development of appropriate safety culture • Emergency response capability for critical incidents • Sharing of experiences • Information sharing & updates • Sharing of experiences • Articulate common position on national issues involving safety & the environment • Planning & conduct of emergency drills & exercises • Continuity of operations • Training & development

11. Disaster Emergency Simulations • 1989 - Ammonia Release • 1993 - Natural Gas and Chlorine Release • 1994 - Methanol Release, Fire/Explosion • 1995 - Butane Release • 1995 - Aircraft Crash • 1996 - Toxic Gas Release • 1997 - Pipeline Emergency Drill • 1997 - Chemical Release (Transportation Accident) • 1998 - Methanol Release/Fire – Savonetta Pier • 1999 - Ammonia Release – Savonetta Pier • 2000 - Pipeline Emergency Drill – Port of Spain • 2001 - Natural Gas Release (Plant Fire) • 2002 – Methanol Release and Fire – Savonetta Pier #1&2

12. Lessons Learnt • Industry and government must ensure that risks of industrial/man made disasters are minimized through enactment and enforcement of appropriate legislation, safe operating procedures, and adoption of relevant industry codes and best practices. • Ensure Emergency Response Plans and Procedures are developed, tested at least annually, reviewed/revised and communicated to all the stakeholders. • Ensure the availability of adequate dedicated emergency communications for early warning, request for assistance/ communications .

13. Lesson Learnt • Conduct frequent radio communications emergency exercises based on a documented Radio Communications Protocol. • Standardize terminology used to identify key emergency management groups and personnel. (emergency coordinator, on scene commander, site controller are currently used to describe the same function in different companies). • Ensure the availability of alternate designated Incident Command Posts, equipped to the required standard. • Ensure availability of incident command kits, equipped with identification vests, flags, organization charts, maps, plot plans, etc.

14. Lessons Learnt • Where there is the potential for the release of toxic gases and other contaminants, ensure provisions for measuring and controlling, early warning and shelter in place and / or safe evacuation procedures. • Categorization of accidents/ incidents according to level of response required (Levels I – IV) • Detailed call-down procedures with roles and responsibilities clearly defined • No effective system for informing Communities exists at present • Some Statutory Authorities not fully aware of its role in ensuring public safety for chemical emergencies • Tendency of first responders (in drills) to ‘rush into the scene without proper briefing or doning of equipment)

15. Lesson Learnt • Ensure attention is paid to the effective management of the media. The preparation of media kits to provide easily accessible background information on the distressed plant, etc • Conduct more frequent tabletop emergency response exercises and drills as a prelude to the staging of full-scale emergency exercises. • Establish and maintain close liaison with potential responders. • Develop and implement a Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) program to include the training of members of the community.

16. Lessons Learnt • Identify locations for Triage, Staging Areas, Advanced Medical Posts, Collection Points, Field Control Centers etc, well in advance. • Ensure maintenance of written records of all resources (including personnel) that are entering and / or leaving Staging and Triage Areas, etc. • Develop aide memoirs to assist Emergency Response Groups and personnel in the discharge of their duties.

17. Lessons Learnt • Communities not sufficiently informed or prepared. Emergencies (chemical release, fire, explosion hazard) require different actions (evacuation, safe shelter) – need for effective early warning system • No chemical shelters in vulnerable communities • Regulatory/ statutory authorities in need of training in first response (Haz. Materials) • Medical facilities inadequately equipped and have insufficiently trained staff for dealing with mass casualties (chemical/ burns)

18. Community Awareness and Emergency Response Lessons Learnt • Community distrust difficult to overcome – lack of community/ industry relationship • Pyramid of needs (employment etc…..) emergency awareness and preparedness low in agenda • Governmental/ regulatory bodies unwilling to meet with communities after hours/ weekends - fuelling distrust • Political influences • Poor developmental planning

19. Community Awareness and Emergency Response – Modeled against APELL/ Responsible Care • Build relationship between Community/ Industry • Ensure community are informed and know what to do • Community activity sponsorship/ involvement improves on transmitting the message and maintaining interest in the programme • Drama has been effective in transmitting the message • School partnership has been effective • Support school projects • Fire Extinguishers/ safe haven construction/ ERP Development/ Drills • Teacher Training Programme • School Competitions

20. Community Awareness and Emergency Response • Community Risk Assessment and placement of early warning system • Community Sirens/ Early Warning • Community Radio • Drill Participation • Governmental Authorities informed and aware of their roles and responsibilities

21. Parting Thoughts • Industry has wide experience base and knowledge in preventing/ predicting mass-casualty accidents • Must ensure communities are fully aware and prepared for emergencies • Ensure proper infrastructure in installed (sirens/ early warning/ medical) • Must ensure communities are fully in tune with developments and must maintain interest • Governmental Agencies must be appropriately trained for first response/ managing emergencies • Test test test – next best to reality

22. Thank You……Questions????