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Blast Probe Reveals Workers Lacked Skill
By Sahrol Daud

Bandar Seri Begawan - Workers at a factory in Serasa, where an explosion on December 30, 2008 killed three and injured more than a dozen, were trying to install a spiral freezer system using ammonia as the refrigerant when the incident happened.

Three foreign workers were killed and 16 other workers injured including one who suffered severe burn injuries. Thirty-two workers were inside the plant at the time of the explosion.

The incident also led to a cloud of ammonia being spewed. Ammonia is commonly used as a refrigerant due to its excellent heat transferring property, availability and low cost for large commercial operation. However, ammonia is classified as a toxic gas with moderate fire risk and may cause an explosion when mixed with air in the 16 to 25 per cent range.

A thorough investigation conducted by a team of the Fire and Rescue Department found that the foreign workers had been installing the spiral freezer since early November 2008, to be completed in early January 2009.

The department has advised all owners who wish to install such a refrigerant system to obtain prior approval from the competent authority in order to ensure that the proposed system is properly designed, engineered, fabricated, tested and quality certified by international competent laboratories. Engaging competent qualified persons or installers are also essential for the proper installation of the system. The department said it would conduct re-inspection with related agencies on individual factories at industrial areas and other premises to ensure that all requirements with regards to fire safety are complied with.

During the incident, residents residing more than a kilometre away from the factory could hear the sound of the blast and felt the vibration.

The Fire and Rescue Department Command and Control Centre received the distress call at 1218hrs and immediately dispatched crews and firefighting equipment from Muara Fire Station, HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) Team from Berakas Fire Station and a Special Squad.

Firefighters, who arrived at the scene a few minutes later, immediately conducted a search and rescue operation and site evacuation. They managed to control the leak by shutting off the valve to avoid further leak of ammonia.

Ammonia inhaled at high doses can be fatal but the level found after the explosion was not dangerous. A specialised HAZMAT Team from Berakas Fire Station was dispatched to mitigate the severity of the leakage of ammonia using a specialised gas detector. After the HAZMAT Team declared the site was safe, an investigation was immediately conducted by law enforcement agencies.    -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: Three Killed In Blast At Serasa-Muara Factory | Three Die In Gas Explosion | Cause Of Blast To Be Released Tomorrow | Two Survivors Of Gas Explosion Critical In RIPAS | Workers Killed In Muara Blast Had No Professional Certificates

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