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Blast at ONGC-MRPL Site: One Dead, Four Injured

  •   Tue, Oct 18 2011 01:54:45 PM

Blast at ONGC-MRPL Site: One Dead, Four Injured

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Oct 18: At least one person has been reported dead and four others injured in a blast that occured at the crude oil section of ONGC-Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) here.

The blast was reported on the site at Kuttethur on Tuesday October 18 at 11 am.

The deceased person is Mulla from Orissa who was in the welding department.

The injured have been identified as Rahim, Pappu and Uday Kumar. All three have been admitted in Padmavathi, Suratkal, AJ and Father Muller hospitals in the city. The identity of the other injured is yet to be ascertained. Among them, Rahim is said to have sustained serious burn injuries.

The blast occured during repair work of an oil tank under the third phase of MRPL, it is learnt.

There were about 20 to 25 labourers working at the spot at the time of the blast.

Suratkal police rushed to the spot and investigations into the incident are on.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Sunil, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    This is not the first time that explosions have occured in MRPL while working under high LEL (Lower Explosive Limit)............safety is the last priority during shutdown operations here........safety ends after the CISF check for your cell phone and confiscate it.....however there is nobody to check the LEL or the N2 purging.........safety people will be in a sleepy mood as always........MRPL has to do something about this else there may be a major fire or explosion in the near future like the one that occured some years ago at the Phase I Diesel Hydro Cracker.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • abdul Majeed H, Manglore/ Yanbu K.S.A

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Justice Smith, Dubai
    U R right, there should be Confined space entry permit along with HOT WORK permit, prior start the job the LEL (Lover Explosion Level) should be measured in crude oil tank. this is the result of negligence towards the safety precaution. it seems these people are not trained for safety precaution in petrochemical plant.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Justice Smith, Dubai

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Is there a system called "Hot work permit" If this system available there is no chance for any explossion or blast.I am sure the fuel fumes were present before doing the welding works.Where was the safety team?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dolfred D'souza, Goa/Mangalore/UK

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    These accidents would not have happened if proper cleaning, purging and testing procedures had been followed.The container must be drained and cleaned using appropriate methods. To determine whether draining and cleaning has made the container safe, its interior must be tested with a combustible gas detector both before hot work begins and periodically during the work. However, some containers cannot be drained and cleaned well enough to make them safe. Such containers may be made safe by purging and inerting with an inert gas.
    Never assume a container is clean or safe. Make sure that it is made safe and that its safety is verified by testing before any hot work begins. Not following this rule is likely to kill you!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • John crasta, hemmady/Kundapur

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Actually their is proper procedure to conduct any hot work inside the tanks. But In India no safety measure are implemented and govt also not take any action. They implement work permit system to control these kind of job. I agree with Joseph D'souza.Negligence is the main reason for accidents and if the workers are trained they can avoid these kind of accidents

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Venkatesh mb, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Im very sad after hearing d news about blast in mrpl ph - 3 project site.. And there are many accidents reported at project site from last 2 years.. But the main problem s contract workers who came from difrent parts of the country and most of them are uneducated & not following wattsup measures properly. So they should be trained properly before appointing for job. MRPL is said to be most safest refinery and best safety department in the country. So I hope such incidents will not happen in future..

    DisAgree [8] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ashwin.shetty, mnglr

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    really this is very sad news.......
    may the soul rest in peace.......... And what would be the reason for this ?

    DisAgree [7] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arshad Kadli, Bhatkal / Al Khobar

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Mangalore is a land blessed with so many native languages. In addition there is an influx of migrant labourers from Orissa, Bengal, North etc.
    I wonder these labourers with their minimal education will understand most of the safety instruction trainings that are imparted to them at ONGC.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jawar D'Souza, M'lore/Doha

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    No one follows the safety precaution's properly,once ther is a accident then only they think about safety.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph D'souza, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Eventhough I don't know the exact cause of the blast I can say certainly negligence was the prime cause.I feel pitty for poor workers for the potential hazard they are subjected to during these kind of job.Having worked in refinery maintenance for long time in middle east I conclude that,there was lack of training in conducting such tasks specially on tanks.My views are,
    1.Any vessel handling hydrocarbon potentially dangerous even after evacuation of the product.A compund called pyrophoric iron accumulated will be self ignitable and flammable.Normal air entry will improve oxidation and create ideal situation for explotion.
    2.welders normally use ignitable tools like grinders,cutters during weld preparation.So prior to any hot work gas test is compulsary and continuous gas level monitoring is required.
    3.Proper ventillation and exhaust is neccessary to extract smoke and dust.
    4.Crew shall have proper training with modern scientific methods.
    5.condition of the tools and fixtures must be good.
    6.Supervisor shall be technically competant,evaluated potential hazards prior to start up.
    These are the precautions normally in oil and gas sector.I feel this accident would have avoided.My sympathies are with the victims.Dear all engineers and supervisors please train your subordinates on safe working methods.Every life is precious.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    It's a very sad incident. May his soul rest in peace. These accidents are mainly due to human error.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • ISMAIL.K.PERINJE, PERINJE-YANBU/KSA

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    MRPL has very bad record of safety precautions and GOVT OF INDIA INDUSTRIAL SAFETY department should audit the safety measures immediately.Now -a- days MRPL is in the news for poor safety maintenance.May the soul rest in peace..

    DisAgree [10] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Munna, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    This is 2nd time in mangalore...why there is no safety ...Whether Mangaloreans life is so cheap ..protest for such things..

    DisAgree [17] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, Mangalore / Doha

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    May the soul rest in peace.

    Safety standards in Oil & Gas industries around the world is adequate, but there are certain things which are beyond human capacity. Accidents are result of carelessness. MRPL is an international standard industry and i assume the safety standards followed there is world class

    DisAgree [11] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rupert Lobo, Doha

    Tue, Oct 18 2011

    Very Sad news..........

    DisAgree [11] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse


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