fire & health & safety firegeezer on 10 May 2008 10:34 am
New Zealand LODD Tied To Excessive Propane
THE COLD-STORAGE WAREHOUSE FIRE IN NEW ZEALAND on April 5 (Firegeezer REPORT) has been found to have twice as much propane on site as the law permits.
During early firefighting operations a sudden explosion killed one firefighter and sent the rest of his company to the hospital. The enlarged fire then destroyed to of Waikato’s fire engines.
New Zealand Herald photo
Investigation has found that not only was the firm in gross non-compliance, but inspection and permit procedures are in a shambles with little or no enforcement. The Fire Service yesterday admitted it still does not know what cold storage plants throughout the country are using flammable gases such as propane as a refrigerant.
The Fire Service is also supposed to maintain “risk assessment” plans for hazardous occupancies, but it appears that they did not have one for the Icepak plant where the fatal fire took place.
Phil Tayor of the New Zealand Herald has a good, in-depth story today about the confusing regulations and the questionable enforcement policies that are currently in place. You can read it HERE.
