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CATCHING FIRE. ANOTHER AMMONIUM NITRATE EXPLODES DURING TRANSPORT INCIDENT
Investigators have been granted access to the site of a catastrophic truck crash and explosion that injured eight people south of Charleville in south-west Queensland.
The truck driver, two fire officers, and two passers-by remain in hospital with serious injuries, while three other rescue workers were recovering at their homes in Charleville.
Emergency crews have described the scene as "war zone", with the explosion leaving a five-metre-wide crater in the landscape.
We reported here on another truck accident involving ammonium nitrate catching fire in BC
TRUCK HAULING AMMONIUM NITRATE CAUGHT FIRE IN B.C.
http://metroforensics.blogspot.com/2014/11/truck-hauling-ammonium-nitrate-caught.html
Few weeks ago, we have informed the public of the West Texas fertilizer warehouse exposion that killed at least 14 people and destroyed dozens of homes.
LACK OF PROTECTION FOR COMMUNITIES AT RISK FROM AMMONIUM NITRATE STORAGE FACILITIES. LACK OF REGULATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
HTTPS://SITES.GOOGLE.COM/SITE/METROFORENSICS3/EXPLOSION-AT-THE-WEST-FERTILIZER-PLANT-IN-TEXAS
This is some very serious and extremely dangerous situation we are facing, considering that there are many proposed fertilizer plants and incresed road openiongs and mining operations where the ammonium nitrate is stored, transported, manufactured or used.
What happened on September 7, 2014 in Queensland?
A road train carrying forty-four 1.2 ton bags of ammonium nitrate manufactured for explosives use was involved in a single vehicle accident. The truck, traveling at night in a remote area, left the road ending-up in a dry creek bed adjacent to a road bridge and in close proximity to a rail bridge. The vehicle was on fire and the driver was injured. Two other truck drivers stopped to assist. The emergency services were called. A small explosion occurred while the responding police and fire crews were tending to the injured driver.
They relocated to a position further away from the burning vehicle, however, a large second explosion occurred. All people at the scene sustained injuries, most of them very serious. The road train, two fire trucks and road bridge were destroyed, the rail bridge sustained major structural damage and the police car sustained significant damage.
Ammonium nitrate is liable to explosion when exposed to extreme heat or fire, a combination of heat and pressure, contamination with fuels, organic matter and other chemicals and subjected to stimuli capable of causing an explosion, or a combination of any of these.
Recommendations
These are general recommendations and do not reflect the findings or recommendations of the ongoing investigation into the nature and cause of this incident.Besides, when Ammonium Nitrate catches fire, the truck fire extenguishers are no capable of stopping the chemical fire.
Transporters review their safety management systems to ensure the risks with the transport of ammonium nitrate are controlled to prevent an accident that may lead to an explosion and the consequences of any accident are minimised including:
1. Ensure vehicle maintenance is of a standard to prevent road accidents.
2. Drivers are trained, have appropriate experience and procedures are in place to ensure they are fit for work.
3. The hazards and risks in an emergency situation involving ammonium nitrate are understood and communicated to those involved in emergency response.
4. Emergency response procedures are adequate, well understood and practiced.
5. The vehicle fire fighting equipment is appropriate and serviceable and operators are trained in its use.
6. The In Vehicle Monitoring System and GPS tracking systems are operating correctly.
Ensure that the requirements and provisions of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail are complied with.
Investigators have been granted access to the site of a catastrophic truck crash and explosion that injured eight people south of Charleville in south-west Queensland.
The truck driver, two fire officers, and two passers-by remain in hospital with serious injuries, while three other rescue workers were recovering at their homes in Charleville.
Emergency crews have described the scene as "war zone", with the explosion leaving a five-metre-wide crater in the landscape.
A two-kilometre exclusion zone was declared after the truck, carting more than 50 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, crashed and rolled about 10:00pm (AEST) on Friday.
Police said the blast was so powerful it "disintegrated" the truck, destroyed firefighting vehicles and two bridges, and blew a hole in the Mitchell Highway.
Authorities said it was a miracle no-one lost their life.
You have a look at the road behind you and there is no road behind you - it's going to take weeks, if not months, to clean up.
Fire Inspector Warren Buckley
The site of the explosion was deemed too unsafe for authorities to enter on Sunday, but police and forensic experts have now been granted access.
Fire Inspector Warren Buckley said investigators would be looking at the incident for some time.
"You have a look at the road behind you and there is no road behind you - it's going to take weeks, if not months, to clean up," he said.
"This is a first in 26 years of firefighting - it's not often we come across these major events and our crews are extremely lucky."
Assistant Fire Commissioner Tom Dawson praised the actions of the officers.
"Without doubt, the courage shown by the crews and to experience this experience and survive it - I've got the greatest admiration for those on scene," he said.
Three remain in hospital
The 33-year-old truck driver was in an induced coma at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, with his pregnant wife by his side.
Two firefighters remain in the Toowoomba hospital with internal bruising and serious damage to their ear drums and were in a stable condition.
Rescue crews were trying to extract the driver from the truck when they found out there was ammonium nitrate inside.
They were making a mad dash from the truck when it exploded.
Inspectors said it was the slight rise of 1.5 metres from where the truck rolled under the bridge to where they were standing that ultimately save their lives.
It was the second accident in Queensland involving transportation of the hazardous chemical. The last was in Taroom in 1972.
The owner of the truck, Kalari, said it was deeply saddened that people were injured in the explosion and that their welfare was the company's priority.
In a statement, Kalari said it had stopped the service route pending more information about the incident.
Authorities preparing 100-kilometre detour
Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson said officers from his department were investigating the accident and the road would be closed for some time.
The Department of Main Roads was preparing a 100-kilometre detour to Cunnamulla for traffic in the area, along the Charleville-Bollon Road.
"There are rules in place both in terms of signage and particular routes that they are allowed to carry dangerous goods and obviously we'll be talking to police about whether anything was done wrong," Mr Emerson said.
"The road will remain closed indefinitely until the area is deemed safe.
"The Department of Main Roads is still working on an interim detour."
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