Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Hydrogen Fluoride is probably the most dangerous industrial gas handled in quantity. It eats glass. However, those who use ammonia based fertilizers

or similar products that vaporize quickly or come in mixed gas and liquid form, such as propane or butane should review transfer and storage practices.

Besides smothering hazards and corrosive properties some have critical points for expansion, explosion, or other hazards.

 

 

From: Gwiazdzinski, Brian
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 3:19 PM
To 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 09:02 AM
Subject: FW: HF Release, 5 Dead 18 Injured/South Korea 
 

For your information.  As you may know HF – hydrofluoric acid or hydrogen fluoride is highly corrosive acid and can cause very deep tissue burns (calcium seeking) when exposed to the skin. 

 

Please note that this incident has not been vetted.

Begin forwarded message:

Subject: FW: Update  - South Korea, Hube Global, HF Release, 5 Dead 18 Injured

The task was probably thought of as routine – small job leaves 5 dead, 18 injured and 3000 treated for exposure

 

---

Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 2:55 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL]FW: Update - South Korea, Hube Global, HF Release, 5 Dead 18 Injured

 

Not sure if you saw this, HF Release in S. Korea. Worst chemical accident in Korean history.

 

 

Subject: FW: Update - South Korea, Hube Global, HF Release, 5 Dead 18 Injured

 

Folks,

HF release in South Korea.  As emergency responders we must manage placement of apparatus and responders.  Obvious from this photograph that these assets are in a hazard area.  Although we don’t have HF at this facility, the reinforced lesson is pertinent to us with consideration of potential flammable vapor release and our exclusion zone requirement.  Keep an eye on the Big Picture.  We can’t help solve a problem if we are the problem.

 

Outside the response issue, review the cctv of the incident.  I don’t think the language barrier will be a detriment when viewing.  The two workers never had a chance to survive this.  Some of the issues are clear i.e.  PPE, working platform (ISO containers are inherent with this issue) , procedure etc.  As we review and plan work here we need to ensure that we are thinking through the hazards.

 

There are 5 folks that came to work expecting to go home!  Other workers and responders went home different from when they came to work.  This release affected thousands off site.

 

Please share where appropriate.

 

Update  - South Korea, Hube Global, HF Release, 5 Dead 18 Injured

There have been plenty of incidents recently where fire officers responding to fire’s have poorlypositioned fire apparatus resulting in loss of the fire trucks and in some cases loss of life  - what about toxic gas releases? – how committed into the hot zone were these fire-fighters and their fire trucks?

Two worker at top of tank lorry for transfer and two worker at ground level for pump repair and one officer at office building close to tank lorry died.

See this tragic event unfold with this CCTV footage of the workers on top of the ISO tankconnecting air lines to effect the transfer of HF – moments later the HF is released;

http://tvpot.daum.net/v/v0aecHlQNWHWNHQKQmHHTXX

Anhydrous HF leaked from the liquid valve as two workers were on top preparing to connect a Anhydrous HF ISO Tank for offloading. They accidently fully opened the quarter turn valve. An estimated 8 tons of HF was released. 5 people including the 2 workers perished, 18 responders, workers, reporter wound-up in the hospital, almost 3000 villagers from 2 villages downwind of the facility were treated for irritation, exposure.
 
Some pre-report key issues in my mind are:
 
1.      Both workers had no chemical protective clothing or SCBA
2.      Emergency response equipment/systems to mitigate the leak
3.      Emergency Responders were not aware of the treatment for HF
4.      Calcium Gluconate was not readily available
5.      Valving on the ISO should be reviewed
 
This has been reported to be the worst chemical accident in Korean history
 
Further video footage during and post the release;

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELxvetIdqts&feature=related

Video:  http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=44910985

Video: http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=45028120

---