The number of workers injured in the explosion at a Sasol plant in Sasolburg on Tuesday has risen from 13 to 19, Sasol spokesperson Andre Botha said.
”Initially we reported that 13 people reported to the medical station for observation, but the number has now risen to 19. However, only one person suffered third- and second-degree burns and is still in hospital,” said Botha.
”The other 18 workers will report back to work [on Wednesday] as no major injuries were reported.”
The explosion at Sasol occurred at 9.20am at a site adjacent to its Sasolburg plant, known as Venko Park.
Botha said a contracting company had been appointed to remove chemicals from the site, which had been left by a previous contractor.
”Attempts to get this contractor to clear the site were unsuccessful, hence the appointment of TMS to remove the remaining chemicals.”
The explosion happened while the chemicals were being transferred into a tanker.
”Sasol’s emergency services team was on the scene within minutes. This incident was adjacent to our manufacturing operations and it will therefore have no effect on production,” said Botha.
Work at the site was suspended immediately after the accident and the area had been cordoned off.
Local Department of Labour officials have also visited the site for inspection. A formal investigation is underway.
”The investigation will hopefully commence within the week. We have not been given a timeline as to when it will be completed,” said Botha.
Trade union Solidarity said it was gathering information about the accident and committed itself to working with Sasol in improving the standard of safety in the petrol industry.
”This accident is seen in a serious light. We are working with Sasol to find the exact cause and will then act accordingly,” said Solidarity spokesperson Dirk Hermann.
”However, we experienced a real opening attitude from management. They were totally different from the past. They immediately informed us of the blast and we appreciate that,” added Hermann.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) spokesperson expressed shock at the explosion.
”We send our best wishes to all those injured and Cosatu also calls for a thorough inquiry into this latest blast to determine the cause and whether there was any negligence,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
”In particular, we want to know if any work at the plant had been outsourced and whether this played any part in the accident, as it did in the Secunda blast in 2004.”
About 12 workers have been killed and more than 300 injured in explosions at Sasol plants in the past two years.
In May this year an independent compensation fund for workers injured or killed in Sasol’s September 2004 blast was launched by the petrochemicals company and two trade unions.
Under the agreement between the company, the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union and Solidarity, the September 2004 Accident Trust should be registered by the end of June 2006. Victims or dependants of the dead would be able to apply for compensation. — Sapa