Thursday December 19, 10:17 PM
S'pore and M'sia ready to respond to any chemical spill at Second
Link
Singapore and Malaysian authorities say they are ready to respond
to any chemical spill or attack at the Tuas Second Link.
They said they have improved their response time to incidents after
a chemical spill exercise on Thursday morning.
However it was not all smooth sailing during the exercise.
During the exercise, the participants learnt to handle a simulated
cloud of toxic chlorine fumes released after a lorry bound for
Singapore overturned.
The Malaysian authorities received the call about the incident at
9.30 in the morning from the lorry driver.
Unlike previous emergency response exercises - the exercise this
time round was conducted real-time to see how quickly both sides at
the Second Link respond in such an emergency.
The Malaysian firemen arrived at about 10am - not too good for the
passengers - as they would have been exposed to chlorine for half
an hour and seriously hurt.
The Singapore authorities received the call at 10am and got there
in ten minutes.
And it was no rehearsal when a Malaysian fireman had difficulties
breathing while all suited up in the Hazmat protective gear.
Fortunately after some fresh air he was fine.
Singapore's Civil Defence force was on-hand to disperse the
'chlorine' vapour and clean up the spill.
Some 40,000 tonnes of hazardous chemicals like phenol and ammonia
are moved along the bridge each year.
There have been no accidents of this nature since the Second Link
opened four years ago.
But authorities say such exercises help prepare the agencies to
handle any situation - including a chemical terrorist attack.
Foong Chee Leong, Head, Pollution Control, National Environment
Agency, said: "If we are prepared for an accident, we should be
able to use our experience in accidents to deal with whatever
scenario it is."
As for improving response time, the authorities say they will work
with companies which transport chemicals to educate lorry drivers
on how to react in an emergency.
Tan Soon Fuan, Police District Chief, Johor Bahru, said: "Practice
makes perfect - we have to continue to improve on this
aspect."
More than 150 personnel from both sides were involved in the
exercise.
Ideas??? Comments??? With the recent terrorists threats, what
about a non-accidental chem spill???
I'm fatalistic. .