12 October 2007
The Department of Labour is to launch a formal inquiry into the explosion of
a tanker at the Natcos Crude Oil Plant in Prospecton, Durban on Wednesday which
left one worker dead and six others injured. Four of the employees were from
emergency services.
Labour inspectors investigating the disastrous incident found that the
deceased was an employee of Supervac, a contractor who provided a honey sucker
tanker truck to Natcos. The truck was used to suck sludge out of the crude oil
tank and dump it into a holding bay.
It is alleged that just before the fatal incident, an employee from Natcos
who conducted a visual inspection on the truck had noticed that there was a
thin layer of ash-like material inside the tank. When the operation to suck the
sludge started, bubbles formed around the sucking pipe.
It is also alleged at this point that the tank temperature started rising
with the gas sensors around the tanker starting to indicate that there was a
flammable gas in the vicinity. The tanker was immediately moved to an open
field outside the Natcos premises where it was first cooled with water after
which the product was then drained-off. When the process was assumed to be
completed, the tanker suddenly exploded.
During the investigation Labour inspectors found calcium carbide (CaC2), a
chemical or compound that is used to manufacture a highly flammable substance,
acetylene gas inside the tank. It is therefore suspected that the unfortunate
incident was caused by an alleged chemical reaction that occurred when the
calcium carbide came into contact with water, thereby forming acetylene.
The formal inquiry set up in terms of Section 32 of the Occupational Health
and Safety Act of 1993, will seek to establish the cause of the incident. If
the employer is found to be negligent and to have flouted any aspect of the
law, a recommendation to prosecute will be made to the Director of Public
Prosecutions.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Email: zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
12 October 2007
Source: Department of Labour (http://www.labour.gov.za)
