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LPG Tank Truck Incidents: Rescue & Relief Operations: Page No
LPG Tank Truck Incidents: Rescue & Relief Operations: Page No
Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
Page No. I
OISD-GDN-161
REVISION - I
FOR RESTRICTED
CIRCULATION
Page No. II
OISD-GDN-161
Revision – I : March, 2003
Prepared by:
COMMITTEE ON ‘LPG TANK TRUCK INCIDENTS’
Preamble
Indian petroleum industry is the energy lifeline of the nation and its continuous performance is
essential for sovereignty and prosperity of the country. As the industry essentially deals with
inherently inflammable substances throughout its value chain – upstream, midstream and
downstream – Safety is of paramount importance to this industry as only safe performance at all
times can ensure optimum ROI of these national assets and resources including sustainability.
While statutory organizations were in place all along to oversee safety aspects of Indian
petroleum industry, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) was set up in 1986 Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India as a knowledge centre for formulation of
constantly updated world-scale standards for design, layout and operation of various equipment,
facility and activities involved in this industry. Moreover, OISD was also given responsibility of
monitoring implementation status of these standards through safety audits.
In more than 25 years of its existence, OISD has developed a rigorous, multi-layer, iterative and
participative process of development of standards – starting with research by in-house experts
and iterating through seeking & validating inputs from all stake-holders – operators, designers,
national level knowledge authorities and public at large – with a feedback loop of constant
updation based on ground level experience obtained through audits, incident analysis and
environment scanning.
The participative process followed in standard formulation has resulted in excellent level of
compliance by the industry culminating in a safer environment in the industry. OISD – except in
the Upstream Petroleum Sector – is still a regulatory (and not a statutory) body but that has not
affected implementation of the OISD standards. It also goes to prove the old adage that self-
regulation is the best regulation. The quality and relevance of OISD standards had been further
endorsed by their adoption in various statutory rules of the land.
Together we strive to achieve NIL incidents in the entire Hydrocarbon Value Chain. This,
besides other issues, calls for total engagement from all levels of the stake holder organizations,
which we, at OISD, fervently look forward to.
Jai Hind!!!
Executive Director
Page No. IV
The Co-ordinator,
Committee on
LPG Tank Truck Incidents
OIL INDUSTRY SAFETY DIRECTORATE,
Government of India,
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas,
8th Floor, OIDB Bhavan, Plot No. 2, Sector – 73, Noida – 201301 (U.P.)
.
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
Page No. V
NOTE
Page No. VI
COMMITTEE ON
LPG TANK TRUCK MODIFICATIONS, DESIGN AND OPERATION
(First Edition: August 1993)
LIST OF MEMBERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME ORGANISATION STATUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S/Shri
COMMITTEE ON
LPG TANK TRUCK INCIDENTS
(Revision I: March 2003)
LIST OF MEMBERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME ORGANISATION STATUS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S/Shri
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In addition to the above, several other experts from industry contributed in the
preparation, review and finalisation of this document).
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
CONTENTS
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SECTION DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
2.0 SCOPE 1
3.0 DEFINITIONS 1
ANNEXURE I 13
ANNEXURE II 16
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Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There is a sustained growth in consumption and consequent transportation of bulk LPG by road
tankers to LPG Installations spread all over India.
In order to have better and clear understanding among the Oil Industry personnel, their roles and
responsibilities along with various other authorities have been defined.
Interaction at field level with local authorities, law enforcing agencies, fire brigade and other oil
companies is must to familiarise all concerned and to ensure their co-operation and willingness to
handle such emergencies.
2.0 SCOPE
This document provides guidelines for handling emergencies arising out of LPG Tank Truck (TT)
incidents. The location incharges, based on these guidelines, should identify necessary
resources so as to handle such incidents promptly. These guidelines can be modified to reflect
local conditions as well as the capabilities of the response team.
Guidelines for Rescue & Relief operations for POL Tank Truck Accident are covered in OISD-
GDN-165.
3.0 DEFINITIONS
3.1 Bulk LPG Tank Truck: A Tank Truck designed to carry bulk LPG by road.
3.2 Incident: An event involving a bulk LPG Tank Truck with or without bulk load meeting with
an accident with/ without leak with or without fire.
3.3 TRANSPORT EMERGENCY (TREM) CARD: A card issued by an LPG loading location
containing details about the nature of hazards, protective devices, telephone numbers
and actions related to spillage, fire, first aid etc. to be taken in any emergency.
3.4 Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosion (UVCE): With the release of LPG to atmosphere,
vapour cloud formation takes place. Ignition and burning of vapour cloud as deflagrations
and fireballs may cause lot of damage by radiation starting secondary fires at some
distance. The vapour cloud may ignite and its explosion may cause high over pressures
and very heavy damage, which is termed as unconfined vapour cloud explosion (UVCE).
3.5 Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE): BLEVE is the violent rupture of a
pressure vessel containing saturated liquid / vapour at a temperature well above its
normal (atmospheric pressure) boiling point. The resulting flash evaporation of a large
fraction of the liquid produces a large vapour cloud. If the vapour is flammable and if an
ignition source is present at the time of vessel rupture, the vapour cloud burns in the form
of a large rising fireball. If ignition is delayed a few seconds, such that the vapour has
time to form a large flammable vapour-air mixture, a vapour cloud explosion ensues.
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
3.7 LPG Installation: LPG Installation means an LPG facility like LPG Installation, LPG
Recovery Plant, Refinery etc., where LPG handling, i.e., loading / unloading, bottling etc.,
is carried out.
3.8 Flammable (Explosive) Range: In the case of gases or vapours, which form flammable
mixtures with air, there is a minimum concentration of vapour in air, below which the
propagation of flame does not occur on contact with a source of ignition. This is called
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL). Similarly, there is a maximum concentration of vapour,
above which the propagation of flame does not occur on contact with a source of ignition.
This is called Upper Explosive Limit (UEL). This range of minimum to maximum
concentration is termed as Flammable (Explosive) Range. Generally, this range for LPG
is 1.8% to 9.5%.
In order to handle Emergencies, which may arise due to incident involving LPG Tank Trucks, it is
required that a comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is readily available with the
industry as well as with other related authorities. The Emergency Management Plan should be
clearly understood by its users so that the Emergencies can be handled in a systematic manner
with minimum response time in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
4.1 DISTRIBUTION OF EMP: Copies of the Emergency Management plan shall be made
available by the Industry to:
i. All the field locations i.e. LPG Installations, POL Depots, Terminals / Installations,
Refineries, Gas Processing Plants, Despatch units of ONGC/GAIL etc.
ii. The concerned District Administration, Police Stations and Fire Brigades en-route and
within vicinity of specified LPG tank truck routes.
TREM Card as per details shown in Annexure-II and Route Map shall be provided to the
Tank Truck Crew which should be referred in case of emergency.
4.2.1 As a precaution against any incident or emergency that may occur during carriage, the
TT crew should also be supplied with instructions in writing as detailed in safety
Instructions Booklet attached as Annexure-III.
4.3.1 In case the TT crew is in a position to act, they should inform the nearest LPG Installation
first otherwise contact the nearest Depot / Terminal of any oil company. The TT crew
should also inform the nearest Police Post and Fire Brigade.
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
4.3.2 In case, phone facility is not available in the vicinity, TT crew should send the message
through any other means such as any other truck / TT or any volunteer to the nearest
Bottling Plant, Retail Outlet, Oil Installation of any Oil Company, Police Post and Fire
Brigade, (All Retail Outlets, Oil Installations, Fire Brigade & Police Station should be
provided with telephone nos. of the nearest LPG Installation).
4.3.3 In case the message is received first by Police Post or Fire Brigade or Depot / Installation
of any Oil company, they should inform the nearest Bottling Plant of any company.
4.3.4 While conveying the information to LPG Installation by TT Crew, Fire Brigade, Police Post,
Depot / Installation as may be the case, the following information should be collected and
relayed:
a) Location of incident, milestone no., Highway No., nearest village / town and any other
easily identifiable landmark.
j) Help required (tools & tackles, i.e., jacks etc., crane, transfer of product, towing of
vehicle, fire tender, fire fighting equipment, ambulance etc).
Documentary proof of such intimation to Police Post / Fire Brigade / Retail Outlets should
be retained.
On receipt of information, the LPG Installation should convey information using quickest
mode of communication such as phone, FAX, E-mail etc., to following agencies /
persons:
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
c) District Administration.
e) Zonal / Region and Head Office of the owning Company of the product.
In case a Depot / Installation is located near to the site of incident, the LPG Installation should
inform such location for rendering immediate assistance, to the extent feasible.
Simultaneously, the LPG Installation should organise rescue operations and invoke
Contingency Plan as the situation demands. Following actions should be initiated:
a) After assessing the situation, a rescue team consisting of requisite no. of officers and
maintenance crew should be rushed to the site along with 2-3 empty depressurized Tank
Trucks.
c) Wherever Oil Industry has positioned Emergency Responses Vehicle (ERV), the same
should be requisitioned for carrying out rescue operations.
d) Oil Industry Sales Personnel of the concerned area should also get associated with
rescue team to provide assistance through local agencies on receipt of information.
4.5.1 SCENARIO
On reaching the site, the rescue team should assess the situation and liaise with the
Plant Manager for any further help required from any agency. The Rescue team should
classify the incident in the following category:
b) Resulting in head-on collision, side hit, dashing against any other fixed object, etc.
c) Resulting in tank truck falling off the road with damage to bullet, fittings with or without
leakage and requiring evacuation of product.
i) without fire, or
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
e) Vapour cloud explosion / BLEVE resulting in injuries, fatalities and damages to the
surrounding areas.
The Rescue team should take utmost care in tackling the situation and should not take
undue risk and should guide professional fire fighting people of the Fire Brigade/ Industry.
The scenarios mentioned in para 4.5.1 call for following emergency actions:
LPG Installation need not depute the Rescue team to the site of incident. However, if
required, the LPG Installation should arrange to inspect the TT and advise whether the
TT can proceed to its destination safely. The Plant will also decide whether any repair
could be undertaken by the Transporter without emptying out the tank truck or whether
tank truck needs to be evacuated / degassed which should be done at the LPG
Installation.
(B) (i) Incident resulting in head-on collision/ side hit, dashing against any other
fixed object and no damage to bullet or any fitting.
Rescue team should proceed to the incident site and initiate the following action:
b) Assess whether tank truck can be towed to the nearest LPG Installation after initial
repairs.
c) List out all precautions and advise the driver / Police for the steps to be taken while
towing the vehicle to the LPG Installation, if it can be towed.
d) Tank truck should be unloaded at the LPG Installation immediately after reaching and
shall be released only after it has been made gas free.
In case the mechanical condition of tank truck is not stable, it should be evacuated in line with the
procedure stipulated in subsequent scenario B (ii).
a) Warn people to stop all open fire, lantern, to ensure no smoking within the
surrounding area. Use of Cello-phones will not be permitted in the hazard area and
also the TT crew will be prohibited to use any cell phone.
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
b) Stop traffic on both sides of the Road. Divert the traffic from all the roads
approaching the site.
c) Survey the vehicle, bullet, all fittings & assess the extent of damage.
d) Assess whether the anchoring of bullet to the chassis is damaged or intact and
whether the bullet can be lifted with or without chassis.
e) Check possibility of stopping leak by any of the following methods. Such operation
shall be carried out by trained personnel with due care under close supervision of a
competent person and shall be approached from the upwind direction. Also, all tools
and equipment used for controlling the leak shall be spark proof.
f) Possibility can also be explored for stopping / controlling the leakage through
transhipment of products. Transhipment of the product from affected TT to the de-
pressurised TT can be done through any of the following alternatives with the
procedural details given in para 4.5.2 – (C) (e).
i) Through an ERV by pressure differential method with the help of the LPG
compressor.
ii) The depressurised 2-3 TTs brought at the site through a simple connection /
flow.
iv) Pumping water into the affected TT and connecting to the depressurised TT to
evacuate product through vapour line.
g) In case leakage is profuse and cannot be stopped, take the following actions:
i) Take precautionary measures as follows with approach always from upwind side :
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
- Inform Railway authorities if the incident site is in the vicinity of railway tracks,
to suspend all rail movement.
- Extinguish/ take care of all sources of ignition (viz. smoking, cooking, industrial
furnaces, open fire etc.)
- Closely monitor the level of concentration of LPG vapours with the help of
explosimeter outside the cordoned off area to eliminate any danger to public
life & property.
ii) No person shall be allowed to stay within the vapour cloud and within the vicinity in
the wind direction.
iii) On arrival of the Fire Brigade, the vapour cloud should be dispersed towards un-
inhabited area using wide angle spray till the entire product has been vented out, if
possible.
iv) Concentration of vapour shall be checked using explosimeter. Only after all the
vapours have cleared out from the leakage source, the movement of traffic
should be allowed.
h) The other actions, if required, should be taken in consultation with experts in different
fields.
(C) Incident resulting in tank truck falling off the road with damage to bullet, fitting
with or without leakage and requiring evacuation of the product.
• WITH NO LEAKAGE.
a) Survey the vehicle, bullet, all fittings & assess the extent of damage.
b) Assess whether the anchoring of bullet to the chassis is damaged or intact and whether
the bullet can be lifted with or without chassis.
c) In case of filled tank truck, assess whether liquid and vapour nozzles are accessible for
making hose connection.
d) Assess whether crane(s) capable of lifting the tank truck with load are available for
putting the tank truck on wheels or tank truck can be dragged by monkey wrench to the
road. If cranes of required capacity are not available, no attempt should be made for
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
lifting the filled tank truck and tank truck should be emptied before putting it back on
wheels.
e) If Tank Truck cannot be towed safely to an LPG Installation, the product should be
transshipped to another tank truck in the following manner and such operation shall be
carried out by trained personnel with due care under close supervision of a competent
person:
i) Make temporary earthing connection with some electric pole or with iron rod driven in
the earth upto sufficient depth. Also, effective bonding between both the leaky and
empty tank trucks need to be ensured.
ii) Connect depressurised tank truck to the liquid line of the damaged TT.
iii) Slowly open the valves of incident affected tank truck and the depressurised tank
truck ensuring that Excess Flow Check Valves do not close.
iv) If the flow rate is not sufficient which is to be observed by checking rotogauge,
connect depressurised tank truck to the vapour nozzle of the incident affected tank
truck.
v) After the flow rate slows down or stops, connect another depressurised tank truck till
such time the product to the maximum extent is transferred.
vi) Check the level of liquid in the incident affected tank truck by rotogauge, vapour
valve or differential skin temperature.
• WITH LEAKAGE
(D) Toppling of tank truck, rupture of liquid line and LPG truck engulfed in fire.
If the Rescue team / Fire Brigade / Police reaches the site of incident after start of fire,
the following action should be taken:
a) To cool the tank trucks, especially the area in contact with vapour and area around dish-
end by the Fire tender. Nobody to be allowed to move by the side of either of the dish-
ends of the tank truck(s).
b) All personnel from the surrounding area to be evacuated to safer places with the help of
local administration.
c) To advise LPG Installation / District Administration to rush water tanker to the site of
incident.
d) To use narrow angle spray for cooling the bullet and extinguishing fire if the source of
leakage is small, otherwise, burning may be continued under controlled condition.
e) If the fire from overturned LPG tank lorry envelopes the bullet and if it is not possible to
arrange water for sustained cooling, the entire surrounding area must be evacuated,
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
much before water gets exhausted. Fire fighters should also be prepared to leave the
site in such an event.
f) A control room should be set-up at the site with the help of local administration for close
liaison with all agencies.
(E) Unconfined vapour cloud explosion / BLEVE resulting in injuries, fatalities and
damages to the surrounding areas.
There could be possibility of a situation when the incident affected tank truck might
have released a large amount of LPG through the damaged fittings and / or liquid /
vapour manifolds. Since there is a large inventory of LPG in the bullet, LPG would
continue to leak through these openings. In case of delayed ignition, the released
LPG would form vapour cloud and disperse along the wind direction. The vapour
cloud will increase in its size and dilution of the cloud will be occurring around the
outer surface of the plume. Therefore, the vapour cloud may either explode when it
comes in contact with the source of ignition or disperse safely. In case vapour cloud
explodes there would be blast wave / shock wave propagation resulting in damage as
a function of distance. Followed by explosion, there will be fire, which would travel
back to the affected tank truck. Depending upon the nature of damage and type of
release, the bullet may be subjected to flame impingement, which may subsequently
lead to BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion)
In case of a BLEVE, involving the bullet, the damages due to incident radiant fluxes
resulting in fatalities and first-degree burn could be expected upto a distance of about
190m. and 290m. respectively.
1. Arrange to provide first-aid treatment as necessary with the help of local hospitals
and voluntary agencies.
2. Take the injured persons to the nearest Hospital / Nursing Homes with the help of
local administration.
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
3. Extinguish remaining fires, if any, and remove debris from the road to restore normal
vehicular traffic with the help of Fire Brigade / Police personnel.
4. Take up with the local authorities for providing basic amenities, e.g., water, electricity,
food and shelter to the dislodged / affected people.
For tackling emergencies arising out of various scenarios as detailed above, individual
LPG Installation shall formulate specific Disaster Management Plan incorporating all
the available resources with necessary contact numbers.
On receipt of information from any source on incident of LPG tank truck, Fire Brigade
should contact nearest LPG Installation and Police Station. After assessing the situation,
it should:
- Rush fire tender to the incident site with all necessary fire fighting equipment.
- Prepare a Contingency Plan for removal of tank truck, if not leaking, in consultation
with LPG Installation personnel.
- Dispersal of vapours by water spray away from inhabited area, in case of leakage.
- Allow the fire to burn under controlled conditions till the entire quantity is burnt out, in
case the leakage source cannot be stopped.
- Save human lives and salvage material from incident affected truck.
- Liaise with Fire Brigade in the adjoining town for additional help, if necessary.
- Warn the people living in adjacent area for stopping all fire, smoking, evacuation to
safe places, if necessary.
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
- Contact nearest District Police Headquarters and giving the situation report.
- Direct cranes or any other such equipment to carry out rescue operations.
- Give direction to hospitals having burns injury ward for readiness to receive patient
in case of incident involving fire.
- Provide basic amenities, e.g., water, electricity, food and shelter to the affected
people as required.
Mobilisation of resources will depend upon the scenario of disaster and all the locations
are required to identify the resources based on the worst disaster.
The Chief Co-ordinator of the disaster would familiarise with all roads, routes, industries,
First-aid agencies and all the available infrastructure in case of an eventuality.
4.8.1 RESOURCES
The following resources should be identified for the disaster management as listed in
Annexure-I:
a) In-plant resources
b) External resources
c) Communication resources
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
REFERENCES :
7. OISD GDN – 165 : Guidelines for Rescue & Relief Operations for
POL Tank Truck Accident.
* * *
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
ANNEXURE - I
A. IN-PLANT RESOURCES
Mechanical Equipment :
Electrical Equipment :
1. Gas Explosi-meter
2. Flame-proof torches
3. Earthing wires (10 m long) with crocodile clips
1. Gloves:
i) Rubber gloves
ii) Low Temperature Gloves
iii) Industrial gloves (with leather lining)
iv) Canvas gloves
2. Face shields
3. Ear muff / ear plugs
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
Communication Equipment :
B. EXTERNAL RESOURCES :
1. Fire Station
2. Ambulance
3. Hospitals
4. Police Station
5. Drug Stores
6.District Administration /
Collector
7. Availability of Cranes
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
2. Retail Outlets
3. Railway Station
4. Power Houses
5. Civil Authorities
6. Voluntary Agencies
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”
Sr.Number:OISD/DOC/2012/076
ANNEXURE II
EMERGENCY ACTION
Try to move the vehicle to open area.
Stop Engine.
Vehicle should not be left unguarded.
Contact Police, Fire Brigade, Sarpanch, nearest oil company by sending helper /
passer by.
Keep public and traffic away by displaying ‘Danger Boards’ at sufficient distance.
“No Smoking” and “No Naked Lights” within the cordoned off area.
Keep ready for action Fire Extinguishers and Safety Kit.
Stay Upwind.
Spillage Check the valves and caps for tightness by hand and stop leak if possible
“OISD hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting
from the use of OISD Standards/Guidelines.”