Fire and explosion in pharma factory

In an incident of explosions in pharmaceutical factories that stored combustible chemicals, one person died, few persons suffered burn injuries, 3 of them serious. As per the reports, it is not clear whether it is boiler explosion or chemical reactor explosion.  Blast could be felt 12 km from the factory site. Window panes of buildings at 3 km were shattered.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/four-injured-in-explosions-at-tarapur-midc-units/articleshow/63225257.cms

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-blast-fire-in-chemical-unit-in-palghar-5091363/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNJ-w6eEI3k


Additional info.: 3 persons die in the accident

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/city-others/three-die-in-tarapur-industrial-unit-set-up-in-1978-tarapur-midc-has-an-infamous-history-of-accidents-5092536/

One will be surprised with statements in the report!!!

Locking of emergency door leads to death in a fire incident

An explosion and fire during filling of gas cylinders led to the death of a person (apprentice) doing the work. The main door was blocked by flames. The second door was locked and could not be opened in time resulting in suffocation and burn injuries related death.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/teenage-apprentice-died-in-gas-fire-after-bosses-padlocked-container-door-a6806316.html

Burn injuries - an article from The Hindu titled "A burning question"

A burning question - The Hindu

LINK

In an article on burn injuries in The Hindu, following are stated:

1. Out of 30 lakh burn injuries every year in India, 10 lakh victims die and most of them are women and children.
2. Burn injuries can be from heat, electricity, chemicals, light or radiation. 
3. First degree burns involve upper skin (epidermis) and need about a week to heal.
4. Second degree burns involve upper skin (epidermis and and portions of dermis), sweat glands, hair follicles, etc leading blister formation, swelling and pain and require two weeks to heal.
5. Third degree burns involve deeper skin, charring the tissues and structures and may require three weeks to heal.
6. Fourth degree burns involve subcutaneous tissue, tendons and even bone damage.
7. Hot air inhaled during fire incidents damage respiratory tract and swelling and lead to complications.
8. Beyond 40 degree centigrade, protein in the skin is coagulated causing tissue destruction.
9. In chemical burns, protein is converted rapidly to salt causing same damage.

Burn injuries also affect psychology of the persons and require care and counselling.

During acid splash, generally persons wash with some water and do their business. But until unless total chemical is washed, it will continue to cause destruction. There can be delayed effects from inhalation of vapors from the dress material that is soaked with the chemicals like HF, phosgene, etc leading to deaths in the sleep.
Alkali burns cause more destruction to eyes even to the extent of blindness.

Therefore, removing the clothes with chemicals, continuous washing for atleast 15 minutes (even then only about 93-95% chemical is washed off) is necessary and this information should be spread among all persons working with chemicals.
In case of flash burns from arc flash, the temperature can be 20000 degree centigrade and can lead to deaths.
Then, immediate treatment to burn victims is also a must. As it gets delayed, damage will be more and chances of recovery will come down. One should know, whom to contact, which hospital to be referred and action should be taken to quickly shift the victim with care.

Hot water causes death of a boy

An young boy died from scalds due to fall of hot water bucket while playing nearby. The boy died two days after the incident while undergoing treatment. Many such incidents occurred as hot containers are within the easy access of innocent children who are not aware of the hazards. Neither the elders take care to keep such containers at height nor have watchful eye on the toddlers.
It may be noted that skin can withstand temperature only upto 42oC. Hot water at 70oC in 1 sec causes a complete loss of skin thickness in adults and 0.5 sec in kids (skin has cooling mechanism like blood circulation, sweating).

The remedial measures to be taken can be found in internet. One such link is listed below.
http://www.burnremedies.com/Scald-Burn.html

Sparks fall on solvents causing burns to two persons

A newspaper report stated that in a pharma company, sparks fell from a capacitor when two electricians were on the job. The sparks fell on the nearby solvents and chemicals, leading to fire and burn injuries on face and arms of the two electricians.
Safety norms say that ignition sources should not be present atleast 15 m around the flammable storages. Though this is applicable for hot works, the same logic can be extended for storage of flammables also. It is likely that sparks can fly along the wind and can cause fire. The solvent storage area also should be provided with dyke so that leakage / spillage will not spread and are contained.
If it is not possible to remove the flammables away from ignition sources, atleast they should be covered with asbestos cloth or similar fire resistant cover; sand and other suitable fire extiniguishers should be provided near these flammable storages; fire department of the plant should be informed about the srorage and maintenance jobs proposed to be takenup; carryout hazard analysis; communicate the workers about hazards and safety measures to be taken; etc

An animated video describing the hazards during hot works in flammable areas is available at US Chemical Safety Board website (http://www.csb.gov/) and the video link is given here.