Compressor and gas explosion kills 2 people – authorities probe investigation

At approximately 16:00 on Wednesday 13 February 2013 an explosion was reported at Atlas Gardens off Contermanskloof Road in Durbanville.

A private service provider, Comp Air, was contracted to conduct repair work on a compressor at Global Gases S.A. (Pty) Ltd. inside the Atlas Gardens industrial park.

Upon arrival of disaster response teams it was established that the windows of the factory had been blown out and sections of the corrugated iron roof had been ripped off after a compressor and gas cylinders exploded.

The technician, Martin O’Connor from Comp Air, that was conducting the repair work on a compressor sustained fatal injuries after the machinery exploded.

Saji Thekkemalayil Chandrasekharaan from Global Gases S.A. (Pty) Ltd. also sustained serious injuries lost one leg in the incident and was airlifted by ER24 helicopter to Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital. Whilst in hospital he succumbed of his injuries and was declared deceased. The Ports of Entry: Maritime & Aviation Ports Branch of the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the Indian deceased holds a valid passport and work permit which was authorized to be in South Africa until 30 November 2015 whilst in the employ of Global Gases South Africa as a technical supervisor.

Brandon Pretorius another contractor from Marina Electro, also sustained serious injuries and his lower extremities (legs) were amputated. He was taken by the Skymed helicopter of AMS: SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service to the Milnerton Medi-Clinic. He is in a critical but stable condition.

Another seriously injured person, Jean Rossouw was treated and transported to Milnerton Medi-Clinic by ER24 personnel. He is in a serious but stable condition.

Brandon Pretorius and Jean Rossouw are currently in the intensive care unit at the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.

The inspectorate of the City’s Planning & Building Development has conducted an inspection after the explosion. It was determined that the building suffered structural damages and a notice was issued that emergency repair work to be undertaken with immediate effect to make the structure safe.

The cause relating to the tragic accident has not been established.

The City’s disaster response teams together with the Department of Labour and the South African Police Services has launched an investigation into the accident.

The High Commissioner of the Republic of India has been informed to notify the family of Saji Thekkemalayil Chandrasekharaan that is living in India that has lost his life in the freak accident.

End

Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Man dies in Cape Town gas factory blast

Cape Town - A man died and six people were injured in a blast at a Cape Town gas factory on Wednesday afternoon, the city's fire and rescue services said.

Spokesperson Theo Layne said a compressor exploded at the Global Gases building in Contermanskloof Road, Durbanville, just before 16:00.

The man who died had been called in to do maintenance on the compressor, he said.

One person lost both legs, while another lost one.

They were airlifted to hospital. Four others sustained minor injuries.

All except the maintenance man were employed at the factory.

Layne said a fire after the blast had burnt itself out.

The explosion blew out parts of the walls and the roof.

He said the building would have to be assessed for structural safety.

- SAPA/News24

Faulty safety valve pops off and releases ammonia in Montague Gardens

At 13:53 the City of Cape Town was informed of an emergency incident where ammonia was released into the atmosphere in the Montague Gardens Industrial area.

The Fire & Rescue Services and the Disaster Risk Management Centre were dispatch to the incident and upon arrival the workers at the Igloo Ice plant that is situated at c/o First and Sixth Street, Montague were evacuated.

As a result of the uncontrolled ammonia emission at the facility twenty persons were slightly overcome by the fumes.

The emergency and disaster management services officials cordoned off the immediate precinct in the interest of public safety.

According to the plant supervisor on-duty the cause of the uncontrolled release of the ammonia was as a result of a faulty safety release valve that popped off a cylinder.

The City’s emergency and disaster personnel made the area safe and handed over the scene to the management of the plant.

The relevant authorities will investigate the incident i.t.o. the provisions of Section 30 of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998.

The plant is required to provide a detailed report regarding the incident; to undertake reasonable measures to prevent such pollution or degradation of the environment; to minimize and rectify the pollution to the environment; and to take any steps as required to minimize the effect of the incident on public health and the environment to the relevant organs of state.

End

Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Traders at Paarden Eiland evacuated after Chevron pipe leak in Paarden Eiland

At 09:20 the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre was informed by traders at the Paarden Eiland Flea Market concerning a chemical substance that has covered the parking area.

The emergency crews from the Fire & Rescue Services and the Disaster Risk Management Centre were dispatched to the scene without delay to investigate the incident.

Upon arrival it was established that the substances that was emitting through the maintenance manhole was originating from the Chevron pipeline transferring diesel from the Port of Cape Town to its refinery in Milnerton.

The management of Plant Protection and Emergency Services Divisions of Chevron were informed that has dispatched its crews to deal with the incident.

The pipeline was isolated by Chevron to mitigate any further environmental and health impact to the surrounding area.

Approximately 500 people that were traders and patrons had to be evacuated in the interest of public safety

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has issued a directive to Chevron to effect emergency repairs to the pipeline without delay in terms of the provisions of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 in order to:

· to take reasonable measures to prevent such pollution or degradation of the environment

· to minimize and rectify the pollution to the environment

· to provide the relevant organs of state with a detailed report regarding the extent of the incident; the possible impact the incident posed to the public and the environment; the amount of toxicity of substances or by-products released by the incident; and

· to take any steps as required to minimize the effect of the incident on public health and the environment to the relevant organs of state.

The contracted staff of Chevron is also deployed who are working with the City of Cape Town.

The area has been closed off to the general public and excavation is in progress in order to establish the cause of the pipe leak and to effect repairs under strict security provisions.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre will continually assess and manage the situation until the situation is resolved.

The traders may resume with dealing as from tomorrow [Sunday, 09 December 2012] at the Paarden Eiland Flea Market as only a small section will be prohibited for trading.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town


For operational enquiries: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Worker injured in Cape Town Harbour

A worker sustained serious injuries this morning after he was pinned between two large concrete pipes at the Cape Town harbour.

The events leading up to the incident is unclear, but the worker was moving close to where the large concrete pipes were being off loaded. Somehow the worker, believed to be aged 41, was pinned between two of the concrete pipes. Concerned coworkers rushed to the mans aid and found him pinned below the waist. They quickly moved the pipes in order to free him.

When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they found the man in severe pain. Paramedics administered Advanced Life Support treatment to the man and gave him medication for the pain. The patient had sustained serious injuries in the form of a suspected broken hip, broken bones in both his legs as well as suspected back and neck injuries.

The man was rapidly transported to a nearby medical facility for further treatment. The incident will be investigated by the appropriate authority.

- ER24

Five workers killed by gas

Five workers of the Sol Plaatje Municipality were killed at Kimberley's Homevale waste water treatment plant, a city official said on Tuesday.

“We confirm the death of five of our workers…at around 12.45pm today (Tuesday),” said city spokesman Sello Matsie.

He said one of the workers was cleaning the pump house, about six metres underground, when the accident happened.

Apparently sludge came out of one of the monitors in the room and filled the room to a height of about 1.5 metres.

It was suspected the worker was overcome by methane gas.

Matsie said it seemed the other workers tried to help in an attempt to rescue the first worker and they were also overcome by the gas.

He said the accident was now subject to various investigations by different state departments, the police and the municipality.

The recovery of the bodies was nearly completed by 6.30pm on Tuesday.

Matsie said questions about safety issues would be handled in the investigation.

- Sapa/IOL

Kimberley Municipal workers dead after inhaling gas

Johannesburg - Five people were killed on Tuesday after inhaling gas at a waste water purification plant in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, paramedics said.

ER24 spokesperson Andre Visser said five workers went into a sewerage tank for maintenance and inhaled the gas, rendering them unconscious.

"The bodies have been recovered."

- SAPA

Vyf sterf by rioolaanleg

KIMBERLEY. Vyf Sol Plaatje-munisipale werkers is gister omstreeks 12:30 dood by die Homevale-rioolaanleg nadat hulle deur metaangas in een van die pomphuise oorval is.

Hulle was glo besig om ondersoek in te stel na `n lek in een van die pype. Volgens die munisipale woordvoerder, Sello Matsie, het die eerste werker ondersoek ingestel na die fout.

Toe hy na `n halfuur nie terug is nie, het sy kollegas hom gaan soek. Elkeen het probeer help om die ander, wat self deur die gas oorval is, te help. Hulle het egter almal omgekom.

Matsie het sy medelye aan die oorledenes se familie betoon en `n volledige en deeglike ondersoek beloof om antwoorde te kry oor wat presies gebeur het. Hy sê die munispaliteit stel altyd veiligheid eerste by hul werkplekke.

- Volksblad

Two die and two airlifted after structural collapse

Two men have sustained fatal injures while another two suffered critical injuries after a wall collapsed onto them at a residence on Adam Tas road in Somerset West.

The three construction workers and their manager were at the wall that was being constructed behind the pool at the private residence, when suddenly the wall collapsed onto them. The manager was crushed beneath the weight of the rubble, while one of the construction workers was pushed into the pool and he may have been drowned as he was pinned down by the weight of the bricks on top of him. The two men died at the scene and nothing more could be done to save their lives.

The other two men had also been crushed by the falling rubble and the Department of Health Provincial Government Emergency Medical Services Structrual Collapse Unit were immediately called to the scene to coordinate the rescue of the two men. The Structural Collapse Team set to work to free the man, meticulously removing the rubble from the area so as to not impact on the patient’s injuries but to free the two men as quickly as they could.

Approximately two hours later the patients were ready for transport and AER24 was called in. A private ambulance service brought the patients to a nearby field where ER5 had landed in wait. The first patient was loaded into the air ambulance and transported through to Mediclinic Vergelegen. After a comprehensive but quick handover of the patient, they booked airborne back to the scene to collect the second patient. Shortly after that the patient was safely on the way to Mediclinic Cape Gate.

Both patients, despite having suffered extensive injuries in the accident, remain in hospital in stable conditions.

- ER24

Worker dies after brick wall falls on him

A man believed to be aged in his 20′s has died this afternoon after a structural wall collapsed on him.

The events leading up to the incident is unclear, but the man was allegedly standing in a trench when the brick wall fell on top of him. When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they found the man removed from under the pile of ruble.

The worker had sustained fatal crushing injuries and was later declared dead at the scene. The incident will be investigated by the appropriate authority.

- ER24

Two Workers Injured After Structural Collapse

Two workers have sustained serious injuries this afternoon after a building that they were demolishing in Paarden Eiland in Cape Town fell on them.

ER24 paramedics along with Life ALS responded to the scene and found the two workers had already been extricated from the rubble of bricks and found near to the incident. The paramedics assessed the patients and they were treated for suspected neck and back injuries and suspected broken bones. Advanced Life Support intervention was performed on the patients before they were transported to Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

- ER24

Man critically injured in Germiston factory fall

A man was critically injured when he fell nearly twenty meters from a second story walkway at a factory in Germiston this morning.

The cause of the accident and the series of events preceding it remain unclear and will form the subject of a South African Department of Labour inspectorate investigation.

Common cause information suggests that man had been installing a piece of equipment and lost his footing while working in an overhang. He plunged nearly twenty meters onto the floor below.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find the man in a critical condition, having sustained severe lower limb trauma. He was rapidly stabilised at the scene and transported by ambulance to the Netcare Union Hospital for further treatment.

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare Limited
Netcare 911

Workers hurt in Brakpan electrocution

Five men were injured, one of whom critically, when they were electrocuted while performing maintenance on a roadside electrical distribution box in Brakpan this morning.

The cause of the incident and the series of events preceding it remain unclear and will form the subject of a department of labour investigation.

Common cause information indicates that the workers had opened the distribution box which they had thought had been isolated from the power grid. The men came into contact with live wires within in and current passed through their bodies.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find one man was in a critical condition, having sustained severe burns to his head and torso. The other men were in a moderate condition.

All were treated and stabilised at the scene and transported by ambulance to a private hospital nearby for further treatment.

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare Limited
Netcare 911

Man fights for life after Kimberley electrocution.

A man was critically injured when he was electrocuted while working at a substation in Kimberley central business district, this afternoon

The cause of the incident and the series of events preceding it remain uncertain and will form the subject of a Department of Labour investigation

Common cause information suggests a man was working with a drill which came into live electrical cables. The high voltage current passed through the man’s body and caused severe electrical burns to his torso, neck and face. The incident caused the building to catch fire.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find that the critically injured man had been pulled from the building by co-workers. Paramedics immediately initiated care, rapidly stabilising the man at the road side before he was transported by ambulance to a private hospital in Kimberley.

No one else was injured in the incident

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare Limited
Netcare 911

Ammonia leak contained at Table Bay Cold Storage

At approximately 16:55 on Thursday, July 26 2012, it was reported that ammonia was released from the Table Bay Cold Storage.

The City dispatched its specialized hazardous materials chemicals teams of the Fire & Rescue Services to the incident to investigate and to stabilize the incident.

The staff of at the facility has swiftly contained the uncontrolled emission by isolating the valves and main motor of the storage plant mitigating further ammonia release into the air.

The quick response by the Fire & Rescue Services and the staff of the plant eliminated the need to activate contingency plans to close off public access and evacuating the plant in terms of the City’s disaster plan.

No one was injured during the course of the incident and the area has been deemed safe.

It is unclear what quantities of ammonia were emitted; however the relevant authorities will call for an investigation into the matter.

The Table Cold Storage facility is required to provide a detailed report to the authorities regarding the incident in terms of the provisions of Section 30 of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Wilfred Schrevian Evan Solomons-Johannes
Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects
Acting Head: Disaster Operations Centre

Man falls from height after being electrocuted in Stellenbosch

A 43 year old man was fortunate to survive a serious incident this afternoon after he grabbed onto a high voltage cable in Stellenbosch.

The events leading up to the incident is unclear at this stage, but the man had climbed a pole for unknown reasons. As he was climbing the pole he grabbed onto a high voltage cable. The jolt of electricity caused the man to fall approximately 15 meters down to the ground.

When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they found the man on the ground and in severe pain. The patient had sustained 1st degree burns to his right hand as well as multiple injuries to his right arm and a broken nose.

With the help of paramedics from the WCG Health: EMS the man was stabilised at the scene before being rapidly transported to the Stellenbosch provincial hospital for further care. The incident will be investigated by the appropriate authority.

- ER24

Factory worker critically injured in Germiston furnace blast

A factory worker was critically injured when a furnace exploded at a factory in Germiston in the early hours of this morning.

The cause of the incident and the series of events preceding it remain uncertain and will form the subject of a National Department of Labour investigation.

Common cause information indicates that the man had been working near the furnace when there was a small explosion, purportedly caused by a an item or substance that was placed in the furnace.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find that the man had sustained serious burn wounds to his face, chest and arms. Small shards of metal from the explosion also struck the man in the face. Medics treated and stabilised the man at the scene and transported him by ambulance to the Netcare Union Hospital.

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare LimitedNetcare 911

Sunninghill lift plunge leaves three men injured, two critically.

Three lift technicians were injured, two of whom critically, when a lift under repair at a building in Sunninghill plunged several meters to the ground below this morning.

The cause of the incident and the series of events preceding it remain uncertain and will form the subject of a National Department of Labour investigation.

Common cause information suggests that the lift had been suspended on the third floor by ropes while the men conducted repairs, seated on the roof.

The ropes appear to have given way or snapped, sending the lift plummeting to the ground below.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find that the technicians had been dragged to safety by their colleagues and had been lain near the lift doors. Two men were in a critical condition and a third had sustained serious injuries.

The three were stabilised at the scene and transported by ambulance to the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital for further urgent care.

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare Limited
Netcare 911

Uncontrolled smoke emission at Caltex Refinery under control

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre was informed by Chevron Corporation: Cape Town Refinery regarding an uncontrolled smoke emission at its facility.

One of the units at the plant malfunctioned and an emergency shutdown was executed resulting in the black smoke emitting from the plant.

The emergency crews of the refinery responded to the incident and it was confirmed that there is no immediate threat to life, property and the environment.

The plant is stable and the situation is under control and the services of the City’s disaster response teams are not required.

The City’s Air Pollution Division of the Department of Health will investigate the incident by verifying the quantities of uncontrolled smoke that was emitted from its air pollution monitors that are placed at the plant.

The incident will be further investigated in terms of the provisions of Section 30 of the National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998, by the relevant authorities; and the plant is required to provide a detailed report regarding the incident.

End

Issued by: Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Wilfred Schrevian Evan Solomons-Johannes

Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects

Acting Head: Disaster Operations Centre

Man fights for life after Pretoria explosion

A man is fighting for his life in the Netcare Milpark Hospital after he was critically injured in a chemical explosion at a factory in Waltloo, Pretoria, this morning.

The cause of the incident and the series of events preceding it remain uncertain and will form the subject of a department of labour inspectorate investigation.

Common cause information suggests that the man had been welding sheet metal when the flame came into contact with a drum containing a flammable solvent. The drum exploded and caused a fire in the factory. The force of the explosion threw the man backwards.

Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene to find the man in a critical condition, having sustained severe burn wounds to ninety percent of his body. They immediately initiated care, and called for the assistance of the trauma team aboard the Netcare1 Aeromedical Helicopter.

The chopper landed in the roadway and the man was stabilised further. He was airlifted to the Netcare Milpark Hospital for specialist treatment.  

Jeffrey Wicks
Media Liaison Officer - Gauteng
Netcare LimitedNetcare 911

Department sorry for miners’ deaths

Johannesburg - The department of mineral resources on Monday sent condolences to the family and friends of the five mineworkers killed during a fire at a Gold Fields shaft at the weekend.

“The inspectors immediately went to the mine after being notified of the accident and later issued a Section 54 instruction to the employer to withdraw workers from the relevant mining areas,” spokeswoman Zingaphi Jakuja said.

Department officials would conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident, she said in a statement.

The five miners died at Gold Fields' KDC West mine at the weekend. The company said a fire broke out in the Ya-Rona shaft in Merafong, near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg on Saturday night. Fourteen miners were taken to hospital. By Sunday, three had been discharged.

To date this year there have been 63 mining fatalities and 1425 injuries.

“This indicates that the health and safety in the mining sector is still a serious challenge,” Jakuja said.

Earlier the Chamber of Mines also extended its condolences.

“We are acutely aware of the pain and suffering brought about as a result of the untimely loss of a relative,” CEO Reggie Sibiya said in a statement.

The chamber Ä an industry employer's association Ä said it would continue working with the government and unions towards safer working conditions.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) claimed more of a fuss was made over the deaths of rhinos or white workers than those of black workers.

“We know if it was the rhinos killed there was going to be lot of noise made by some, or if it was the white workers,” Cosatu Gauteng spokesman Dumisani Dakile said.

The National Union of Mineworkers, a Cosatu affiliate, said the five died of asphyxiation and said they had been working overtime loading mud, without available compressed air.

Comment could not immediately be obtained from the company on these claims.

Dakile said the government should take “drastic steps” against mines exposing workers to dangerous conditions.

Cosatu was planning an urgent meeting with the departments of labour, and mineral resources and energy, to discuss how to prevent such events in future. It also planned a national day of mourning.

Gold Fields' chief executive officer Nick Holland earlier described the deaths as shocking.

“We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to their families, friends and colleagues. We are in the process of contacting their next-of-kin and will do all in our power to assist them through this difficult time. We will thoroughly investigate the causes of this accident.”

Executive vice president and head of Gold Fields' South Africa region Peter Turner said there had been 655 fatality-free working days (two years and nine months) at the shaft before Saturday's accident.

“This incident is highly regrettable in view of the significant safety improvements we've experienced on this mine.”

The shaft, and the other 12 shafts on the KDC operation, had been closed and the company would co-operate in an investigation.

Comment was not available from the mineral resources department.

- Sapa/IOL