Risky and Safety Management: Technol Construction Limited, TCL - Case Study Example

RISKY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT By Overview Technol Construction Limited, TCL, has been awarded a mega project tender to construct the West Island Line, which is approximately a 4 kilometer alignment to extend the Island Line from the new Kennedy Town Station to the Sheung Wan Station. Most of the station boxes, adits, and East Island Line tunnels will have to be excavated in the rock underlying the city of Hong Kong. In estimation, about 500,000 square meters of rock will have to be excavated. The most effective way of extracting this amount of rock is through blasting. As such, TCL will require explosives, particularly dynamite, to blast the rock and enable the construction of the station boxes, adits, and underground tunnels. The 4 kilometer stretch will require a magazine, otherwise known as an Explosive Storage Magazine, to house the tons of explosives required.At the magazine, detonators, boosters, and the explosives will be stored before being transported to the blasting areas. This is the storage stage in the supply chain of the explosives required for the project. In the light of this, it is necessary to carry out a preliminary vulnerability analysis as a means of adhering to Hong Kong’s health and environmental legislations. This will also act to increase the level of honesty and openness concerning the safety risks for the storage and transportation of the explosives required for the project. Figure 1: Map showing extension of the Island Line from the new Kennedy Town Station to the Sheung Wan Station PreliminaryVulnerability Analysis A preliminary vulnerability risk assessment is necessary in that it will highlight the potential weaknesses in the storage of the dynamite explosives in the magazine as well as the transportation of the explosives between the magazine and blasting sites. In so doing, it will be possible to identify two critical things; one, that TCL is within the safety, risk, and environmental legislations of Hong Kong, and more importantly, the ways through which potential weaknesses that threaten the mega project can be neutralized. In doing this, the preliminary vulnerability assessment will analyze the magazine (storage), road and tunnel (transport), and blasting sites since they make up the threat environment within which the explosives will operate. From the assessment, it will be possible to reveal potential threat channels and in it acquire openness that will enable us to devise safety and precautionary measures to ensure success of our mega project.This stage is necessary since it determines the approval or denial of the project proposal by the Hong Kong construction and explosives authorities. The analysis is highlighted below, with regards to the type of risk posed by the explosives that will be stored in the magazine and transported to the blasting sites; Cartridged emulsion This is an explosive used in general blasting, quarrying, and mining. It has a 0.96 kg equivalence of TNT per 1 kilogram of emulsion. It is a detonator sensitive emulsion, meaning it does not require boosters to detonate it. As such, its handling requirements are quite high (Persson, Holmberg &Lee 1993, p.55). Bulk Emulsion Precursor This is an alternative explosive to cartridged emulsion in rock excavation through blasting. It is however used in tunnel blasting. It is sensitized by adding a gassing solution of citric or acetic acid to it. It is then directed to the charging hose using a delivery pump. Until it is pumped to the delivery hose, it is not explosive. Again, it has to be detonated using a detonator and a small booster (Persson, Holmberg & Lee 1993, p.55). Detonators These are the minute devices used in safely initiating blasting of explosives in a systematic (controlled) manner. The ones to be used in this project are shock tube and non-electric detonators. They usually contain the most sensitive explosives but again, they are made in a way that their handling poses minimal risks. In addition, their packaging is made to absorb the explosions in case of accidental detonation. Detonating Cord This is a thin and flexible tube that has an explosive core. A detonating cord contains compressed powder PETN explosive. It has an effect similar to a detonator along its entire length and is used to deliver detonations to the explosives or boosters from the control panels. They are initiated using blasting caps. Booster or Explosive Primer Bulk explosives require more than just the small quantities of explosive contained in detonators. As such, primers or boosters are used. Boosters contain PETN and TNT mixtures to create Pentolite. Pentolite however requires a detonator to initiate explosion (Persson, Holmberg & Lee 1993, p.55). Accidental initiation of explosives at storage Magazine Accidental initiation of explosives at the magazine can be caused by the following factors; 1) Inappropriate methods of work; 2) Poor housekeeping; 3) Electrical faults; 4) Crushing of explosives by trucks during loading or offloading; 5) Dropping explosives during handling (particularly detonators); 6) Inadequate controlled maintenance activities; and 7) Arson. Potential Harm In the event that accidental initiation detonated the explosives inside the magazine, potential harm is likely to occur to the following populations; 1. Pedestrians and road vehicles on the nearby Victoria Road. 2. Nearby buildings. 3. Boats in the nearby Sulphur and West Lamma channels. Relevant Theories of Safety Management Several theories of safety and risk management can be incorporated into this feasibility stage of the Hong Kong project to increase the level of honesty and openness concerning the project’s success. One of them is the Normal Accident Theory, NAT, which applies to tightly complex and tightly coupled systems such as nuclear plants, marine transport, weapon systems and so on. the theory states that human designs are not perfect and are prone to errors. The errors, it continues, may occur in the operators, supplies, environment, procedures or equipment (Perrow n.d., p.33). In this mega project, the NAT theory would be effective in that the implementation of the storage (magazine) will take into account any potential threats that may result from error in design. For instance, the doors and other locking mechanism should be made such that they do not produce sparks through friction. Again, since at times it will be impossible to reduce any sparks from emerging, measures should be implemented so that the sparks do not come into contact with the explosives. On another instance, since the magazine may explode due to some errors, the potential damages or casualties should be minimized by implementing the appropriate measures. The second applicable theory applicable in this mega project is the High Reliability Theory, HRT, also applied in high risk and complex systems such as nuclear power plants and air traffic control. This theory states that that high risk organizations should recognize the potential threats they face due to complexity and risk factors, and in it devise measures to avoid catastrophes being they happen (Wallace & Ross 2006, p.175). This mega project employs much use of high profile explosives capable of causing extensive damage if uncontrollably used. As such, it qualifies to be a high risk and complex project. In the light of these, it is important to highlight the potential risks that face the storage facility, the magazine, and in it implement preventive measures to prevent any accidents or incidents during storage.For instance, if the area where the magazine is to be built is prone to earthquakes or high temperatures, measures should be implemented to prevent the initiation of the detonators and stored explosives. This is because these risk factors, which act as threats, may cause the explosives to drop or heat up and go off. In short, it is all about countering the detrimental effects of threats before they happen. Hong Kong health and Environmental Legislation In Hong Kong, explosives and blasting agents fall under the legislation of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance in Caption 295 of the Laws of Hong Kong. They are put under the authority of the Commissioner of Mines and are placed in category 1 in the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Dangerous Goods Division 2002, p.1). Following this categorization, further legislations follow as provided by the Section 5(7) of the Environmental Impact Assessment under the authority of the Hong Kong Environmental Department (EPD). The EIA brief as applying to the Hong Kong mega project is indicated below (Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department 2010, p.A10-2); Figure 2: EIA brief: Hazard to life requirement Figure 3: Societal Risk Criteria in Hong Kong In adherence to the above Hong Kong health and Environmental Legislation brief, TCL will seek to align the construction of the magazine to the stipulated measures. Again, this will be effected by considering the preliminary vulnerability assessment, the applicable theories, and the EIA requirements. These will not only lead to openness and honesty with regards to the expected risks, but also allow for implementation of safety measures. The recommended measures of the construction and maintenance of the storage magazine in adherence to the EIA are highlighted below; 1. The magazines will be constructed underground and furthest from densely populated areas. Again, the chosen construction site will be an area with good (dense) rock cover to absorb any potential accidental explosions. The area should also have minimal public road usage and be far from inhabited waterfronts. 2. Again, multiple magazines will be constructed so that in the event that one of them develops a hitch and explodes, the damage will not extend to the others. As such, the damage will be minimized and supplies saved. The magazines will also be reinforced using absorbent material and concrete walls to catch debris which may fly off in the event of an explosion. This will also prevent any external threats to the magazines. 3. Again, each magazine will have two separate compartments; one for storing the explosives, and the other for storing the detonators. This will minimize the risk of accidental initiation of explosions when the two come into contact. 4. Only authorized personnel will be allowed to access the magazine areas as well as handle the stored material. This will prevent accidents arising from wrong handling or carelessness. The offloading and packaging will also be overseen by professionals. 5. Finally, to counter malicious acts or arson, the magazines will be kept under 24-hour surveillance to keep of any potential human threats. This will require collaboration with the Hong Kong federal authorities. Summary With these implementations in place, the safety management feasibility assessment will be complete and ready to be presented to the approving bodies. It is sufficient in that it considers the nature of materials to be used in the mega project, the potential threat nature of the materials, and the regulations by the [local] Hong Kong government. In considering them, the assessment has created a workable safety framework that not only provides openness and honesty, but also implements preventive measures during storage of the required rock blasting explosives. Bibliography Dangerous Goods Division of the Licensing and Certification Command 2002, “Classification of Dangerous Goods”, 1-2. Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department 2010, “Appendix 7A- Environmental Protection Department.”Gov.hk. 1-456. Perrow, C, n.d., “Accidents, Normal”.Accidents, Normal.33-39. Persson, P, Holmberg, R, & Lee, J 1993, Rock Blasting and Explosives Engineering, CRC Press. Wallace, B, & Ross, A 2006, Beyond Human Error, CRC Press. Read More