Lessons from the Longford Gas Explosion and Fire

摘要

Europe is currently introducing the Seveso II Directive which will require companies to implement an advanced safety management system and to demonstrate that major hazards are well controlled. A major accident occurred recently in Australia to a company that was implementing a system broadly equivalent to the Seveso II requirements. The way that this accident occurred and how safeguards were bypassed is an important lesson to learn. On 25 September 1998, a vessel in the Esso Longford Gas Plant, Victoria, Australia, fractured releasing hydrocarbon vapours and liquid. A major fire followed. Two Esso employees were killed and eight others were injured. Supplies of natural gas to domestic and industrial users were halted for between 9-19 days. The State of Victoria, which is highly dependent on natural gas, suffered substantial disruption to the economy. The Government ordered a Royal Commission to investigate the causes of the incident. DNV acted as technical adviser and the authors of this paper were members of the Royal Commission technical investigation team. The main lessons to be drawn from Longford relevant to loss prevention are, in the opinion of the authors, as follows: 1. Safety Management System - incomplete implementation 2. Knowledge Stewardship - insufficient on old plant 3. Management of Change - organisational change not scrutinised 4. Audit and Review - inadequate attention to detail