There are two fundamental hazards in industrial gases – the gas itself and the high pressure under which it is stored in cylinders.

If mishandled or fitted with substandard parts, industrial gas cylinders can turn into “deadly missiles” that can lead to disaster, according to veteran chemist Datuk Dr Omar Shawkataly (pic).

The retired Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) professor of chemistry said the pressure in cylinders was typically between 1,500psi and 2,000psi or higher.

That is way higher than the 200psi of a domestic cooking gas tank.

Dr Omar said mishaps were often caused by fittings, namely the valves, regulators and hoses.

“The cylinders have thick walls to withstand the high pressure within, but the problem often lies in the fittings. If it is of poor quality and breaks off, the high pressure will send the weighty cylinder rocketing away like a missile.

“This can be extremely dangerous. This is why gas cylinders must be secured well against a strong wall with thick solid steel chains and not raffia string.

“The same should be done when they are transported,” said Dr Omar who has researched compressed gases for over 40 years and specialises in carbonyl chemistry.

He said even the wrong use of material in manufacturing valves can be a hazard. Valves made from copper or copper alloys, if used for tanks containing acetylene gas, could result in an explosion as the gas reacts adversely to the metal. He said proper installation of valves and hoses are also equally important.

The chartered chemist said that while leaks from flammable gas may cause fires or explosions, non-flammable gases can prove to be equally deadly, especially when it involves cryogenic gases.

Dr Omar said these gases are are extremely cold, at around -115ºc, and can expand to very high volumes when exposed to air.

Pure cryogenic oxygen can cause asphyxiation if released in enclosures.

“A litre of cryogenic liquid can expand to over 200 times more in open air. If there is a leak of liquid oxygen, it can choke us because the air we breathe contains 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen.

“If oxygen levels go way beyond this, it can displace nitrogen. If nitrogen levels go up or down, we die,” said Dr Omar who was with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health as an observer for 15 years.

While there are comprehensive laws governing industrial gas in Malaysia, there is inadequate training on safety for workers.

“More training should be held for the workers around an environment surrounded with high pressure gases. Various types of valves may not be interchangeable with the use of different gases.

“Refilling cylinders with gases they were not built for or accidentally mixing two kinds of gases can also be disastrous. Some ‘empty’ cylinders could have residual gas trapped in them,” said Dr Omar, who felt industrial gas parts and fittings must be made to meet Sirim standards.

The chemical recycling factory at Sungai Kapar Indah where a gas explosion happened on Monday has been ordered to tighten its standard operating procedure by the Selangor Environment Department (DOE).

Selangor DOE director Nor Aziah Jaafar said the factory administration will have to find ways to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

“We had inspected the factory on Jan 6 and found everything in order. The housekeeping was proper and there was no breach of any DOE regulations and requirements,’’ said Nor Aziah.

Since the recycling factory dealt with chemicals, it was licensed by the DOE.

Nor Aziah said that preliminary investigations showed that the explosion was an accident due to a leakage during the chemical transfer process.

“The explosion happened very quickly and the factory was not able to activate its emergency response,” she said.

Nor Aziah added that the air quality was not affected following the explosion.

The explosion at the factory in Sungai Kapar Indah had rocked the area and shocked nearby residents, but luckily, no one was injured.

Hours later, another explosion and a fire happened at a gas storage factory at Taman Aman Perdana.

However, since no chemicals were involved, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Fire and Rescue Department.

Selangor Fire Department assistant director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the department’s forensic team was identifying what caused the mishap.

Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety and Health Department registered safety and health officer Mogana Kumar Lachumanan said a risk assessment by a qualified officer must first be carried out before initiating preventive measures in factories.

“Once the risk assessment is done, you can identify potential risks and determine what the controls ought to be put in place,’’ said Mogana Kumar.

He added that chemical and gas-related fires and explosions could be caused by leaks or sparks from tools used to carry out work in the area where the chemical or gas was stored.

JAKARTA - Lebih 600 keluarga di bandar Jakarta, Indonesia terpaksa dipindahkan selepas kebakaran memusnahkan lebih 500 rumah di daerah Kemayoran, Jakarta Pusat awal pagi Selasa, lapor Xinhua.

Tiada kematian dilaporkan dalam kejadian itu. Mangsa yang dipindahkan kini berlindung di tempat ibadat berdekatan, menurut jurucakap agensi mitigasi bencana bandar itu, Mohamad Yohan.

"Pelbagai keperluan logistik diperlukan," kata Yohan, sambil menambah bahawa pentadbiran bandar telah mengagihkan makanan segera, selimut dan air botol untuk membantu mereka yang terjejas.

Seramai 170 anggota bomba dengan 34 jentera mengambil masa kira-kira enam jam untuk memadamkan kebakaran itu.

Ketua Polis Jakarta Pusat Susatyo Purnomo Condro berkata, pihak berkuasa mengesyaki litar pintas di satu daripada rumah itu mungkin menjadi punca kebakaran tersebut.

"Bagaimanapun, ini hanyalah andaian awal. Kami akan menjalankan siasatan menyeluruh dengan kerjasama Pusat Makmal Forensik Polis Negara untuk menentukan punca sebenar kebakaran," katanya.

Beberapa jalan ditutup sementara bagi memudahkan proses pemindahan, tambah Condro. - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) menerima peruntukan RM93.374 juta bagi melaksanakan kerja pengurusan cerun di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, berkata daripada jumlah itu, sebanyak RM59.885 juta diagihkan bagi kerja pembaikan cerun baharu di 50 lokasi secara Arahan Kerja (AK).

"Selain itu, kerja sambungan dilakukan di 29 lokasi membabitkan peruntukan RM29.233 juta dan sebanyak RM4.255 juta lagi bagi kerja menaik taraf sistem amaran awal tanah runtuh, kerja pengumpulan data dan kemas kini peta bahaya risiko cerun," katanya berucap sempena Majlis Penyerahan Cerun di Jalan Persekutuan dan Jalan Negeri Semenanjung Malaysia (Reka dan Bina), di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir, Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Nanta Linggi berkata, KKR sentiasa prihatin dan komited menguruskan secara mapan cerun di sepanjang jalan Persekutuan dan jalan negeri bagi meminimumkan risiko cerun runtuh setiap kali musim monsun melanda.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya juga sedar penutupan jalan yang kerap akibat cerun runtuh menyusahkan masyarakat dan menjejaskan ekonomi serta perniagaan.

Katanya, Arahan Kerja Tahun 2025 bagi Projek Penyelenggaraan Cerun di Jalan Persekutuan Semenanjung Malaysia diserahkan kepada syarikat Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd.

"Syarikat ini adalah kontraktor jangka panjang yang dilantik bagi membantu kerajaan melaksanakan kerja pembaikan cerun mengikut keperluan dan kelulusan kementerian.

"Kontrak pembaikan cerun ini berkuat kuasa bermula Januari 2022 dan akan tamat pada Januari 2028," katanya.

Nanta Linggi berkata, Cawangan Kejuruteraan Cerun (CKC), Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) dipertanggungjawabkan sebagai pengarah projek untuk merancang, mengurus dan menyelia kerja penyelenggaraan.

"Kontrak jangka panjang penyelenggaraan cerun ini mencerminkan keprihatinan dan komitmen kerajaan serta hala tuju KKR dalam meningkatkan kualiti infrastruktur supaya bertaraf dunia, selamat serta memberi keselesaan kepada pengguna.

"Ini kerana penyelenggaraan cerun dalam jangka panjang dapat memastikan pelaksanaan kontrak kerja pembaikan cerun yang kritikal disegerakan dan dilakukan dengan lebih pantas berbanding jika melalui proses perolehan biasa," katanya.

Beliau turut mengingatkan kontraktor sentiasa beriltizam memenuhi harapan tinggi dan bertindak pantas dalam menyiapkan Arahan Kerja berkaitan penyelenggaraan dan pembaikan cerun.

Katanya, tahun lalu KKR mendapat peruntukan sebanyak RM200.285 juta dan diagihkan kepada 166 lokasi pembaikan cerun yang berjaya dilaksanakan dengan kos sebanyak RM154.345 juta.

"Sebanyak 20 lokasi cerun dilaksanakan kerja preventif dengan kos sebanyak RM24.199 juta.

"Selain itu, sebanyak RM21.74 juta dibelanjakan untuk menaik taraf sistem amaran awal tanah runtuh, kerja pengumpulan data, pengemaskinian peta bahaya risiko cerun dan penyelenggaraan," katanya.

Nanta Linggi berkata, setiap negeri diberi peruntukkan mengikut kerja cerun yang sepatutnya dibuat.

"Kerja membaiki cerun ini diberi tanggungjawab kepada setiap konsesi dan setakat ini lebih 516 permohonan diterima tetapi hanya 60 lokasi sudah diluluskan.

"Mungkin peruntukan ini tidak banyak iaitu RM93.374 berbanding RM200.285 pada tahun lalu. Ini adalah fasa 1, kita akan pantau, terima dan kita tahu berapa cerun perlu dibuat pembaikan," katanya.

Beliau berkata, peruntukan ini akan ditambah jika terdapat keperluan dan pelaksanaan fasa dua mungkin akan dilakukan.

"Kita memang ada sistem memantau cerun secara berterusan dan kita juga terima laporan mengenai kejadian cerun runtuh," katanya.