2013 Chemical accident in Horlivka

An industrial chemical accident occurred on August 6, 2013 at the private limited company Concern Stirol JSC, part of Ostchem Holding AG, in the city of Horlivka, Ukraine. Ammonia was released in the air and five people were killed[1][2] and 23 people were injured from exposure to the gas. Of these, 22 people were hospitalized burns and poisoning.[3][4]

Before the accident

Concern Stirol, JSC, was founded in 1933. It is the largest mineral fertilizer producer in Ukraine. In September 2010, Concern Stirol became part of OSTCHEM holding controlled by Group DF founded and owned by Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash.[5]

On May 26, 2013 a fire took place in a workshop for the compression of ammonia at the plant, destroying 100 square meters of floor structure and damaging one gas compressor. The fire was extinguished within 1.5 hours.[6]

Locals claim that ammonia emissions occur quite often.[7]

The accident

At 14:00 on August 6, 2013, during the overhaul of plant №1 at the Stirol chemical plant, while depressurizing an ammonia reservoir, a liquid ammonia pipe with a diameter of 150 mm and a working pressure of 12 atmospheres[8] was damaged and gas ammonia escaped.[9][10] A white cloud appeared at the plant and quickly spread.[11]

According to witnesses, there was a panic in the workshop after the accident because people were unable to wear masks,[12] which were rated for only 5 minutes of breathing.[13]

The company Rescue Service completely stopped ammonia output within 20 minutes.[1][8][10] The accident released 600 kg of ammonia into the air.[14]

Consequences

Accident victims

According to initial reports, 2 people were killed, three were injured.[15] The final death toll was 5,[1][2][16] including a foreman–fitter, 3 fitters and an electric and gas welder.[17]

Overall 23 people underwent medical care, with 22 admitted to two city hospitals (№ 2 and № 3) of Horlivka. Later, 5 people were transferred for treatment to the Donetsk Regional Clinical Territorial Medical University.[3][4][8] At the same time the Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration Andriy Shishatskiy said that 21 people were hospitalized.[18]

Among the residents of Horlivka there were no medical consultations regarding ammonia toxicity.[19]

The ecological situation

In the first hours after the accident in the city an unpleasant ammonia smell was reported. People began to take shelter indoors and shut windows, but no official information had been received.[20]

Later, Directorate of Civil Protection of Horlivka City Council published information that the accident didn't pose a threat to people.[16] Later the Horlivka sanitary and epidemiological station confirmed that the maximum permissible concentration of ammonia in air was not exceeded at 500 and 1000 meters from the plant.[21]

Investigation

Prosecutor of Horlivka Oleg Kolesnyk and an investigative team went to the site of the accident. According to preliminary data, a rupture of an ammonia pipeline occurred. Criminal proceedings under Chapter 2 of Article 272 (violation of safety rules during work with high-risk) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine was started. The public prosecutor's office of Horlivka provides procedural guidance for the course of preliminary investigations.[1] Violation of this article carries a maximum punishment of eight years in prison.[22]

After the accident, Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Oleh Proskuryakov, Deputy Attorney General Anatolyi Pryshko and representatives of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Security Service of Ukraine went to Horlivka.[23][24] Also the situation was monitored under the control of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych[25]

During the pipeline inspection a crack length of 10 cm was revealed, through which ammonia had leaked. Also three basic versions of the causes of the accident was formulated: incorrect operation of equipment, safety violations or human negligence. In addition, the company did not immediately notify the appropriate authorities of the accident.

Estimates of the accident

Prosecutor of Horlivka, Oleg Kolesnyk, on the day of the accident said that all causes should be considered, including the human factor, or a violation of a process. He added that it was too early to say what was the cause.[26] A similar view was expressed by the chairman of the State Emergency Service Mykhaylo Bolotskykh.[27] He added that there is no threat to people or the environment.[28] According to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Oleh Proskuryakov, the first conclusions of the Commission on the causes of the accident would be announced by the end of the week.[29] Concern Stirol will provide UAH 5 million in compensations to the families of the five company employees and cover all cost associated with treatment and rehabilitation of all employees affected by the accident.[5]

Reaction

The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and ordered the government to provide victims with all necessary relief and take steps to improve safety at industrial enterprises of Ukraine[30]

On 7 August 2013 the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said that all victims will receive assistance and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Korolevska will go to Horlivka to determine the cause of the accident, then a separate meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers will be devoted to this issue.[31]

Head of Donetsk Regional State Administration Andriy Shishatskiy said that there is no reason to panic because the allowable ammonia concentration was not exceeded, and the accident will not affect the work of the plant.[32]

Follow-up

On Oct 7th, Concern Stirol JSC announced plans to diagnose 14 km of its ammonia pipelines and to conduct major repairs and modernization at the No.1 Ammonia Shop.[33]

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See also

References
  1. Прокуратура: П'ятеро людей загинули при аварії на хімічному концерні в Горлівці. УНІАН. 06.08.2013.
  2. Кількість загиблих під час викиду аміаку на хімзаводі у Горлівці зросла до п'яти осіб. Кореспондент. 06.08.2013.
  3. 5-х постраждалих в аварії на заводі "Стирол" перевезли до обласної лікарні у Донецьк [відео]. Archived 2013-08-07 at Archive.today 5 канал. 07.08.2013.
  4. Аварія на "Стиролі": 5 важких потерпілих перевезли у Донецьк, ще 18 у лікарні. Українська правда. 07.08.2013.
  5. "Concern Stirol to provide each family of the casualties of the tragic accident with UAH 1 million in compensations". 7 Aug 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 Apr 2014.
  6. На аміачному заводі Фірташа в Горлівці сталася пожежа. Дзеркало тижня. 26.05.2013.
  7. ГПУ з’ясовує чому керівництво "Стиролу" оперативно не повідомило про надзвичайну ситуацію на заводі [відео]. Archived 2013-08-07 at Archive.today 5 канал. 07.08.2013.
  8. Аварія на заводі Стирол: у лікарнях перебувають 22 постраждалих. Кореспондент. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  9. На одному з найбільших хімпідприємств України стався вибух, є загиблі - агентство. Кореспондент. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  10. На хімзаводі Фірташа у Горлівці стався викид аміаку, загинули 5 осіб. Дзеркало тижня. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  11. Над заводом "Стирол" після вибуху зависла велика хмара аміаку. Tsn.ua. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  12. Працівники «Стиролу» не встигали одягати протигази, бігаючи в хмарах аміаку (відео). УНІАН. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  13. Аварію на заводі Фірташа ліквідували - уряд. Українська правда. 06.08.2013.
  14. х Після аварії на "Стиролі" у повітря потрапили 600 кг аміаку, розглядаються три версії НП. Дзеркало тижня. 07.08.2013.
  15. Аварія на заводі Стирол у Горлівці ліквідована, є постраждалі - концерн. Кореспондент. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  16. Після аварії на хімзаводі Стирол у Горлівці заміряють шкідливі викиди в атмосферу. УНІАН. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  17. Стали відомі імена загиблих на заводі «Стирол». УНІАН. 07.08.2013.
  18. Аварія на «Стиролі»: Донецький губернатор каже, що приводів для паніки немає. УНІАН. 07.08.2013.
  19. Ніхто із Горлівки ще не звертався до лікарів через аварію на Стиролі. УНІАН. 07.08.2013.
  20. У Горлівці відчувається запах аміаку, люди тікають з вулиць та закривають вікна. УНІАН. 06.08.2013.
  21. Дихати в Горлівці після аварії на заводі Фірташа не небезпечно - СЕС. Українська правда. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  22. Винуватцям аварії на заводі "Стирол" загрожує вісім років в'язниці. Дзеркало тижня. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  23. Аварію на заводі Фірташа ліквідували - уряд. Українська правда. 06.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  24. У Горлівку для з’ясування обставин аварії виїхали представники ГПУ, СБУ і МВС. Кореспондент. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  25. Кабмін: Аварія в Горлівці ліквідована, загрози немає. УНІАН. 06.08.2013.
  26. Аварія в Горлівці могла статися через людський або технологічний фактор. Дзеркало тижня. 06.08.2013.
  27. Головний рятувальник називає дві ймовірні причини аварії на «Стиролі». УНІАН. 07.08.2013.(in Ukrainian)
  28. ДержНС запевнила, що аварія на "Стиролі" у Горлівці не загрожує екологічним лихом. Дзеркало тижня. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  29. Перші висновки комісії щодо причин аварії на заводі" Стирол" стануть відомі до кінця тижня [відео]. Archived 2013-08-07 at Archive.today 5 канал. 07.08.2013.
  30. Техногенна катастрофа на заводі "Стирол" - 5 загиблих, 20 постраждалих [відео]. Archived 2013-08-12 at the Wayback Machine 5 канал. 07.08.2013.
  31. Жодної небезпеки: Азаров прокоментував ситуацію після аварії на заводі Стирол. Кореспондент. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  32. Аварія на «Стиролі»: Донецький губернатор каже, що приводів для паніки немає. УНІАН. 07.08.2013. (in Ukrainian)
  33. "Concern Stirol to spend UAH 23 million to diagnose 14 kilometres of its ammonia pipelines". 7 Oct 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 15 Apr 2014.
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