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25 October 2024
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Joint chemical emergency simulation exercise by the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department (ESD) took part in a joint chemical emergency simulation exercise with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) at Elias Motsoaledi Street in Pelindaba on the morning of Friday, 25 October 2024, at about 09h40. The simulation was done to test all systems pertaining to the preparedness, response and recovery of the ESD, NECSA and other stakeholders, should an emergency occur that could have the potential to escalate to a catastrophe or disaster if not managed properly.
The simulation was also done to fulfil the mandate of the ESD to provide disaster risk management, firefighting and rescue services to communities to prevent loss of life, to prevent damage to property and to conserve the environment.
The ESD takes part in major simulation exercises regularly to ensure that resources are organised to identify, reduce and minimise the impact of disasters and emergencies on residents, properties and the environment should these disasters or emergencies occur.
NECSA is mandated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to perform frequent nuclear emergency exercises to strengthen its safety-first principle and to communicate with surrounding communities within a five kilometre radius from the nuclear reactor.
To provide information to the public regarding any emergency at the nuclear facilities in Pelindaba, several stakeholders need to be brought together, and they all play a critical role in informing, creating awareness and assuring relevant external stakeholders of their safety, while testing the state of readiness of these institutions through frequent emergency exercises. This ensures the readiness of all relevant response units in case of an emergency.
The ESD and NECSA constantly work together with other role players and stakeholders at various levels, such as environmental services, neighbouring fire services and departments in charge of human settlements and social and welfare services, to plan, organise, lead and control incidents in case an evacuation must be ordered during real-life incidents or simulation exercises.
Friday’s scenario involved a dangerous goods truck transporting anhydrous hydrofluoric acid (UN 1052) in an isotainer from NECSA (Pelchem) to a company in Laudium using Elias Motsoaledi Street (R104). Anhydrous hydrofluoric acid is a colourless fuming liquid boiling at 19,4 degrees Celsius. It is shipped as a liquid confined under its own vapour pressure and is corrosive to metals and human tissue. Very short contact with fumes or small quantities of the liquid can cause severe, painful burns. Its vapours are heavier than air. This chemical is used as a catalyst and raw material in chemical manufacture.
While the truck was travelling on the R104, about two kilometres away from NECSA, a vehicle failed to stop at the stop street as the truck was approaching and entered the R104 unexpectedly. This caused the truck and the light motor vehicle to collide. The passengers in the passenger vehicle were injured and required medical attention.
The impact on the truck was significant during the collision, causing the isotainer to decouple from the truck. Initially, there was no apparent leak of the anhydrous hydrofluoric acid from the isotainer. The driver called and notified the NECSA Emergency Control Centre of the emergency incident that had occurred.
The ESD was also informed and immediately responded to the scene with several firefighting resources from Atteridgeville Fire Station, Central Fire Station, Wonderboom Fire Station and Centurion Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire engines, a ladder, two hazardous materials units, two district commander units, a video unit, a rapid response unit and a mobile command unit.
The collision of the isotainer and the vehicle resulted in overpressure in the isotainer, which in turn caused the bursting of the safety disc about 15 minutes after the accident, releasing the anhydrous hydrofluoric acid under 1 200kPa of pressure into the environment.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department was also called, and responded to the scene with several units and ensured that the roads were closed at the R511 and the N4 off-ramp. Traffic was diverted to safely bypass the incident while rescue efforts and all clean-up operations were ongoing on Elias Motsoaledi Street.
Gauteng Provincial Emergency Medical Services was called to the scene and they responded with several emergency medical rescue units. They treated a total of 12 patients for minor to severe injuries, three of whom inhaled the fumes of the harmful product when it was released from the isotainer when it failed under pressure.
The joint simulation exercise was concluded at about 13h01 and it was hailed as a success by all concerned. It will be used as a reference in future training sessions.
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
The simulation was also done to fulfil the mandate of the ESD to provide disaster risk management, firefighting and rescue services to communities to prevent loss of life, to prevent damage to property and to conserve the environment.
The ESD takes part in major simulation exercises regularly to ensure that resources are organised to identify, reduce and minimise the impact of disasters and emergencies on residents, properties and the environment should these disasters or emergencies occur.
NECSA is mandated by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to perform frequent nuclear emergency exercises to strengthen its safety-first principle and to communicate with surrounding communities within a five kilometre radius from the nuclear reactor.
To provide information to the public regarding any emergency at the nuclear facilities in Pelindaba, several stakeholders need to be brought together, and they all play a critical role in informing, creating awareness and assuring relevant external stakeholders of their safety, while testing the state of readiness of these institutions through frequent emergency exercises. This ensures the readiness of all relevant response units in case of an emergency.
The ESD and NECSA constantly work together with other role players and stakeholders at various levels, such as environmental services, neighbouring fire services and departments in charge of human settlements and social and welfare services, to plan, organise, lead and control incidents in case an evacuation must be ordered during real-life incidents or simulation exercises.
Friday’s scenario involved a dangerous goods truck transporting anhydrous hydrofluoric acid (UN 1052) in an isotainer from NECSA (Pelchem) to a company in Laudium using Elias Motsoaledi Street (R104). Anhydrous hydrofluoric acid is a colourless fuming liquid boiling at 19,4 degrees Celsius. It is shipped as a liquid confined under its own vapour pressure and is corrosive to metals and human tissue. Very short contact with fumes or small quantities of the liquid can cause severe, painful burns. Its vapours are heavier than air. This chemical is used as a catalyst and raw material in chemical manufacture.
While the truck was travelling on the R104, about two kilometres away from NECSA, a vehicle failed to stop at the stop street as the truck was approaching and entered the R104 unexpectedly. This caused the truck and the light motor vehicle to collide. The passengers in the passenger vehicle were injured and required medical attention.
The impact on the truck was significant during the collision, causing the isotainer to decouple from the truck. Initially, there was no apparent leak of the anhydrous hydrofluoric acid from the isotainer. The driver called and notified the NECSA Emergency Control Centre of the emergency incident that had occurred.
The ESD was also informed and immediately responded to the scene with several firefighting resources from Atteridgeville Fire Station, Central Fire Station, Wonderboom Fire Station and Centurion Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire engines, a ladder, two hazardous materials units, two district commander units, a video unit, a rapid response unit and a mobile command unit.
The collision of the isotainer and the vehicle resulted in overpressure in the isotainer, which in turn caused the bursting of the safety disc about 15 minutes after the accident, releasing the anhydrous hydrofluoric acid under 1 200kPa of pressure into the environment.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department was also called, and responded to the scene with several units and ensured that the roads were closed at the R511 and the N4 off-ramp. Traffic was diverted to safely bypass the incident while rescue efforts and all clean-up operations were ongoing on Elias Motsoaledi Street.
Gauteng Provincial Emergency Medical Services was called to the scene and they responded with several emergency medical rescue units. They treated a total of 12 patients for minor to severe injuries, three of whom inhaled the fumes of the harmful product when it was released from the isotainer when it failed under pressure.
The joint simulation exercise was concluded at about 13h01 and it was hailed as a success by all concerned. It will be used as a reference in future training sessions.
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services
