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Safety Regulations for the Storage, Packaging, and Transport of Gas: 

Safety Regulations for the Storage, Packaging, and Transport of Gas Sponsor: Ministry of the Interior Co-Sponsor: Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan Energy Committee, Ministry of Economic Affairs 　　　　　

Organizational Structure: 

Organizational Structure 1. Background Explanation 2.Enforcement Status (prior cases, analysis of related regulations) 3. Problem Analysis 4. Policy Planning and Suggestions 5. Standard Procedure in Related Topics (Disaster prevention, emergency response, follow up investigation and evaluation) 6. Established Examination System and Protocol 7. Future Objectives and Vision

1. Background Explanation : 

1. Background Explanation L.P.G. is the abbreviation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. This type of gas is normally stored and transported under high pressure, and returns to its normal gaseous state after decompression. L.P.G. is composed of propane or butane, or a mixture of the two. The burning range of propane in air is from 2.15% - 9.60%, and its combustion point is 493℃~604℃. The burning range of butane in air is 1.55%~8.60%, and its combustion point is 482℃~538℃. It is commonly believed that L.P.G. is not poisonous, however can cause asphyxiation if stored in narrow, unventilated areas. L.P.G. is odorless, although scented materials are commonly added during its transport or storage.

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4. The proportional weight of L.P.G. is 0.509 – 0.582 (at 15.5℃, where water = 1), so it floats in water when compressed. The proportional weight of its vapor is 1.52 – 2.01 (at 15.5℃, where air = 1), so it collects on the ground or low areas. L.P.G. in containers can easily result in B.L.E.V.E (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). The purpose of this case is to: enforce safety regulations for the storage and transport of L.P.G., conduct regular fire safety equipment and storage examinations, removal of expired canisters, and conduct training for storage and transport personnel. These regulations provide measures for ordinary disaster prevention, disaster protocol, as well as post-disaster matters in an effort to reduce the occurrence of L.P.G. leak related disasters, and ensure public safety.

2. Enforcement Status : 

2. Enforcement Status Prior cases: The explosion at the Guan-Cheng Loading Factory in Shi Lin of Taipei County and the gas truck explosion at the Yin-Yuan Bei-Yi Xing-Ye Ltd. L.P.G. loading factory in Kaohsiung were both examples of disasters that occurred due to the negligence of gas truck driver. The driver moved the truck away from the filling platform without noticing that the filling mechanism on the rear of the truck had not been removed, which caused the gas lines to snap, leaking large amounts of gas. The snapped connector scraped against the ground as the truck moved forward, producing sparks, which then ignited the L.P.G. When heated, the contained L.P.G. rapidly expanded into gas, causing the container to burst. The great amount of L.P.G. resulted in the explosion tragedy. Analysis of related regulations: A. The person in charge at the L.P.G. loading factory should provide a safe and sanitary workplace for employees following employee safety and sanitary regulations. B. The person in charge should provide safety and sanitation planning, as required by the “Examination Measures for Dangerous Workplaces”, as well as complete plans in production safety evaluation, emergency protocol, and examination. Operations may only be conducted after examination by a workplace examination institution.

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3. L.P.G. transport vehicle drivers and loading factory personnel should prevent disasters by conducting regular training following employee safety and sanitation training regulations. 4. L.P.G. loading industries that are larger than the regulation scale should conduct fire prevention measures as required by fire prevention regulations. Such industries should hire fire prevention managers, and establish fire prevention plans. In addition, they should conduct fire escape facility inspections every month, maintain fire safety equipment, and conduct fire drills for factory employees at least once every six months (including extinguishing the fire, report of the fire, and evacuation). 5. The fire prevention institution should conduct regular inspection of fire safety equipment and container storage facilities, and remove expired items or items in violation of the law according to fire safety regulations, fire safety equipment standards, and other regulations regarding storage standards and management policy for dangerous and flammable high pressure gasses.

3. Problem Analysis : 

3. Problem Analysis Lack of training for L.P.G. container truck drivers There should be personnel specifically responsible for the loading and unloading of L.P.G. Employers and personnel should adhere to Article 86 of High Pressure Employee Safety Regulations by “safeguarding against gas leakage or explosions”, as well as verify that “the container vehicles do not leave the platform before the containers have been disconnected from the unloading equipment”. There have been no applications for safe connecting equipment or safety measures for the loading of L.P.G. There should be personnel specifically responsible for coordination with fire safety personnel, providing disaster information in an effort to facilitate emergency measures.

4. Policy Planning and Suggestions: 

4. Policy Planning and Suggestions Improve risk control system A. The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Council of Labor Affairs, and local government should gather information regarding disasters and causes of disasters for the purpose of research in the areas of possible disaster prevention measures, risk management, and other disaster prevention techniques. B. The Ministry of Interior, Council of Labor Affairs, and local government should organize a monitoring system for the purpose of conducting examinations in the areas of employee safety and sanitation and fire safety management. Improve the promotion and guidance for loading factories and personnel. A. Local governments should establish disaster prevention measures, and should promote such systems, conduct related seminars, or provide other related assistance. B. Fire prevention institutions should improve promotion of compliance with L.P.G. expiration dates and should conduct regular container inspection, as well as promote fire prevention protocol.

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C. Employee inspection institutions should verify that L.P.G. container trucks are not in motion before conducting loading and unloading procedure at loading plants (for example: parking the vehicle, removing the keys, pulling the emergency brake, as well as use of a tire wedge to prevent the vehicle from moving). D. All related institutions should promote the installation of safety pipe connectors. 3. Improve emergency personnel training: Fire prevention institutions should be completely familiar with the locations of stored L.P.G. and fire safety equipment, conduct disaster training for disasters that could possibly occur, and draw up plans including emergency deployment diagrams, emergency measures, and vehicle deployment methods. This shall enable them to quickly take control of disaster situations.

5. Standard Procedure in Related Topics: 

5. Standard Procedure in Related Topics Situation Determination The L.P.G container truck began to move away from the loading area before the tubing had been disconnected after the completion of L.P.G storage in the loading plant. Due to the fact that there was no safety connector attached, nor were there any other safety measures, the loading tube became torn, causing L.P.G to leak in great amounts. The broken connecter then scraped against the ground as the truck moved forward, creating sparks, and igniting the L.P.G. When the workers were loading the L.P.G into containers, they neglected to first verify the inspection date of the canister or conduct an examination of the exterior of the canisters. In addition, the workers left the working platform during loading. At this time, L.P.G began to leak in large amounts from the base of the containers. The moving of the canisters to the loading machine by the workers caused sparks, which ignited the L.P.G. into flames.

1. Disaster Prevention: 

1. Disaster Prevention Safety Management in the Loading Area 1. The county and city governments shall investigate all equipment and safety distances in the site location during application for establishment for a L.P.G. loading plant to make sure that they adhere to “Chinese Country Standards - L.P.G. Loading Plant Facility Safety Standards” by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology, and Inspection. Licenses shall be granted only to passing inspections. 2. Local fire prevention institutions shall conduct regular and surprise inspections in the loading plants of their jurisdiction. The National Fire Administration shall also conduct surprise spot checks, making the appropriate arrangements upon discovery of violations. Should there be a reoccurrence of a severe violation more than four times, the local fire prevention institution shall report the matter to the county (or city) government, who shall then punish the violator by commanding them the cease operation or usage of the item in violation. The main examination points are as follows:

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a. Does the fire safety equipment follow related regulations? b. Are there any canister expiration date violations? c. Are the size, structure, and equipment of the storage area all in accordance with regulations? d. Is a L.P.G. storage area certification being used in the storage area, as required by law? e. Is container storage area management being utilized? 3. Consideration shall be given to the amount of space appropriated for L.P.G. container trucks to enter and exit the loading area. The trucks should not negatively affect the traffic and procedure of the surrounding pathways. 4. Loading plants shall establish and conduct regular container testing and automatic examination systems in L.P.G. storage and manufacture plants. In addition, they should also follow L.P.G. related transport safety regulations.

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Employee Safety in the Loading Plant A. The responsible party in loading plants shall establish organizational structure for emergency response teams and notification systems. 1. Suitable emergency response teams shall be established during normal operations to quickly and appropriately respond in the occurrence of a disaster. 2. Suitable emergency notification systems and training shall be established during normal operations. In addition, frequent contact shall be made with the police and fire prevention authorities so that assistance may be sought quickly when it is required. B. Local labor inspection institutions shall be responsible for conducting employee safety and health examinations for loading plants under their jurisdiction, and shall handle any violations according to law. C. Local labor inspection institutions shall be responsible for monitoring the safety and health training in loading plants, as required by law.

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3. Disaster Prevention Training and Promotion A. Professionals designated by the parties responsible for loading plants shall be responsible for a training program providing training to new employees. B. The safety training for new employees should be conducted by the shift (team) director. C. L.P.G. loading Plants shall conduct training for normal employees at least once a year. D. The responsible party of a L.P.G. loading plant shall establish an emergency plan, as required by “Chinese Country Standards- L.P.G. Loading Plant Facility Safety Standards”, and should conduct at least one training session a month, which should be recorded and filed.

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E. Loading plant workers shall verify that the exterior of canisters are acceptable in appearance, and that they have not reached their expiry date before the loading of L.P.G., as to avoid danger during loading. F. L.P.G. loading plant personnel safety training shall be conducted as following: a. Select training topics and locations b. Conduct examination; verify content of the safety training c. Compose evaluation standards and safety training plan. d. Conduct training: including accident indication, where trainees must think about deployment procedure, as well as on-site training. e. Compose emergency response plan

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2. Local labor inspection institutions and fire prevention institutions shall plan disaster situation and response measures in advance for loading plants under their jurisdiction, and conduct regular training and simulation exercises for personnel in related institutions and factories. 3. The Council of Labor Affairs shall improve disaster prevention training, specifically in the areas of loading risks and dangers, as to improve the promotion and guidance of disaster prevention in the industry. 4. Local labor inspection institutions shall conduct promotion, seminars, or provide other assistance in coordination with employee safety and health report examinations. In addition, they shall oversee the composition of disaster prevention manuals in specially designated loading plants so that they may establish an independent disaster prevention system. Fire prevention institutions shall conduct regular evaluation of disaster prevention in L.P.G. loading plants, as well as provide guidance when necessary.

2. Emergency Response: 

2. Emergency Response Emergency Procedure in L.P.G. Loading Plants: conduct emergency response procedure and immediately notify related institutions to deal with the situation. 1. Response to large container leaks in loading plants. 2. Response to pipe or valve leaks in loading plants. 3. Response to leaks in the loading devices. a. small leaks b. large leaks 4. Response to fires caused by gas leakage. B. Local Fire Prevention Institution Duties 1. Disaster relief, dispatch from the rescue command center 2. Initial mobilization of fire chief and personnel

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3. Initial communication and report to fire chief; request for support when necessary 4. Deployment of vehicles and equipment by fire chief; priority should be given to search and rescue duties. 5. Disaster prevention and alert by disaster relief personnel. 6. Command authority designation and transfer regulation. 7. Respond to items that should be given attention during gas leaks in large containers or gas trucks in L.P.G. loading plants. S 8. Container truck accidents: response to situations in which there was no leakage or fire. 9. Container truck accidents: response to situations in which there was gas or vapor leakage, yet no fire. 10. Response to gas leaks that have set afire. 11. L.P.G. leak incidents: Cool the storage temperature, and stop the leakage of gas. In situations where it is necessary to extinguish fire on victims, dry fire extinguishing powder may be used, however the gas leak problem still exists.

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12. In cases where the surface of the container is exposed to radiated heat or other sources of heat, one should apply a sufficient amount of water to cool it down. Approach the container laterally and cool off the container body, hosing, and valves. 13. Response guidelines for leakage which has caught fire. 14. In cases where the valve that can stop the leakage is surrounded in flames, large amounts of mist can be used to protect the emergency relief crew as they attempt to shut it off. During this procedure, emergency personnel should proceed slowly and carefully, as to prevent being surrounded by spreading flames. 15. B.L.E.V.E. usually occurs in twisted metal structures or thinning vapor environments even during a fire, except in instances in which the container has tipped over or relief valve has been damaged. 16. Cautionary items during circumstances in which the fire is located above or below the containers. 17. Canisters that have already been tipped over should not be placed upright unless the L.P.G. has already been completely removed.

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18. Fire prevention personnel should adhere to the following procedure when dealing with L.P.G. canister leaks and fires: a. Verify the status of leakage and fire b. Look for symptoms of canister explosion c. Reactionary measures to fires caused by L.P.G. canister leakages in the loading plant. d. Reactionary measures to fires caused by L.P.G. canister leakages in vehicles. e. Reactionary measures to fires caused by L.P.G. canister leakages in homes.

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C. Labor Inspection Institution Duties: Labor institution disaster intervention, report, and case registration procedures Labor inspection institutions should immediately fill out the “Major Work-Place Disaster Report Form”, and fax it to the Council of Labor Affairs after receiving report or otherwise discovering an instance of a major industrial disaster. Inspection institutions shall notify personnel as required by “Emergency Disaster Report Protocol” based on the severity of the disaster. Personnel shall be dispatched to the disaster site immediately to fill out the “Initial Disaster Examination Report”, and e-mail it back to the Council of Labor Affairs. Inspection personnel shall make an hourly report of disaster status and cleanup results.

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4. Disasters occurring on non-working days that are reported by digital media should be reported immediately. In addition, personnel should be dispatched to compose the initial disaster examination report, and send it to the home of the director of the Department of Labor Inspection, Council of Labor Affairs. 5. The inspectors shall submit the major disaster report to the chief inspector, and the chief inspector shall immediately dispatch personnel to the site for inspection. 6. The “Major Disaster File Collection System Form” shall be created in the registered files computer for upkeeping.

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D. Other Related Intervention Matters: The Environmental Protection Bureau shall be responsible for undertaking environmental pollution tests; the Bureau of Public Health shall conduct medical treatment for the victims; police bureaus shall keep order on the disaster site, and conduct traffic; local labor inspection institutions shall conduct storage safety tests. In addition, other related institutions or private organizations shall be called upon for related tasks based on the severity of the situation.

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2. Caution lines shall be drawn around the disaster area. Reporters shall be prohibited from using items which are fire hazards, to prevent explosion. The surrounding crowd may be immediately dispersed if necessary. In severe disasters where there are injured personnel, the emergency medical treatment and county/city support systems shall be activated. If the disaster is still unable to be contained, the Ministry of Interior (National Fire Assembly) shall be notified immediately for coordinated personnel dispatch.

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E. Government Institution Emergency Disaster Report Duties: (Emergency Disaster Report Protocol) Magnitude of disaster and report level Report related tasks: a. Fire prevention report system b. Disaster authority report system Central Department Emergency Response Authority 1. Ministry of Interior 2. Ministry of National Defense 3. Ministry of Economic Affairs

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4. Ministry of Transportation and Communication 5. Government Information Office 6. Department of Health, Executive Yuan 7. Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan

3.Follow-up Investigation and Evaluation : 

3.Follow-up Investigation and Evaluation A. Fire Prevention Institution Follow-up Investigation and Evaluation County/City Fire Department Investigation and Evaluation: a. Keep order in disaster site b. Assign duties c. Conduct site inspection d. Create dialogue record e. Evidence collection and analysis f. Determine starting point of fire g. Request the support of the Ministry of Interior when necessary (National Fire Administration, National Police Administration)

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2. Investigation and Evaluation by the National Fire Administration, Ministry of Interior Cause of fire investigation standard procedure Disaster site evidence evaluation procedure

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B. Inspection Institution follow-up investigation and evaluation Site inspection; victim relief Disaster evaluation, designation, intervention Submit file and case report

6. Established Examination System and Procedure: 

6. Established Examination System and Procedure The Council of Labor Affairs shall determine investigation targets and frequency based on the frequency and trends of major industrial disasters, as well as human resources in labor inspectors. In addition, they shall announce the major annual policy and reform cases each year. The labor inspection shall organize employee safety and health inspections for gas loading plants. Should the Council of Labor Affairs, county and city governments, or inspection institutions discover any items in violation of safety or health regulations during loading plant inspections, they shall inform the guilty party of the violation, and grant a leniency period so the violator may reform. If the leniency period has been exceeded without reform, or there is an occurrence or good possibility for occurrence of a disaster during this period, the institution may require the violator to partially or completely cease operations.

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C. Local fire protection institutions must conduct at least one inspection per month, and schedule surprise inspections. The National Fire Administration shall also conduct surprise inspections. The inspecting personnel shall immediately report and process all items discovered that are in violation of regulations. In the case that a severe violation occurs 4 or more times, the local fire department shall report the violation to the county or city government, which shall punish the violator by commanding them to cease operations or usage of the item in violation. D. City and county fire departments shall submit the statistical report of the examinations conducted for that quarter to the National Fire Administration, which shall then evaluate their performance in the areas of implementation and reporting at the end of the year. In addition, the National Fire Administration may conduct surprise inspection of L.P.G. loading plants under their jurisdiction, based on the reported information.

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E. Labor inspection institutions and fire prevention institutions shall conduct follow-up investigations on violating loading plants, in addition to punishment according to regulations. In addition, they shall increase the amount of inspection based on the frequency of violations in a particular loading plant to avoid reoccurrence. Likewise the amount of fines assessed to the violator shall increase, as to increase the effectiveness of the punishment.

7. Future Objectives and Vision : 

7. Future Objectives and Vision Planned objectives: 1. Short-term objectives: There are currently 106 L.P.G. loading plants in the country to date. We plan to have the fire prevention and labor inspection institutions collect the fire safety management schemes for all of the loading plants under their jurisdiction, and post them on the websites of each labor inspection institution or county/city fire department by June 30, 2004. In addition, they shall continue to conduct inspections, as well as update and correct the posted information. 2. Mid-range objectives: In 2003, the National Fire Administration recorded 159 L.P.G. loading plant inspections, and 40 violations among them, including 1111 L.P.G. canisters in violation of the expiration date. They shall continue to increase surprise inspections, and plan to reduce violations by at least 10%-20% in 2004.

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3. Long-term objectives: We plan to collect evaluations and opinions from each institution in each area that need to be regulated more closely, including: current L.P.G. sales, storage plant land distribution systems, selling gas by container truck, L.P.G container shipment, new and old L.P.G. containers, etc. We plan to use this information to create “L.P.G. Home Safety Regulations”, and pass these regulations in the Legislative Yuan before December 31, 2007.

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B. Future Vision: 1. To decrease the frequency of disasters through L.P.G. loading plant disaster prevention measures. 2. To effectively control disasters and reduce the resulting financial and human losses through disaster response systems 3. To completely re-evaluate disaster prevention and disaster response measures through disaster investigation analysis, and use this information to effectively prevent sudden changes in disasters.

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End of Report