Safety rating system for chemical plants in offing

The department of chemicals and petro-chemicals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers has come up with a draft rating system for safety and security of chemical plants, aimed at ensuring zero accident rate and to incentivise the units having best safety operational measures.

The draft rating system envisages a two-stage methodology for assessment of safe and secure performance of a facility. The first stage acts as a screening mechanism to filter out organisations that do not meet even the basic requirements of safety and security systems essential for a chemical, petrochemical, and petroleum industry.

The second stage is a rigorous assessment to benchmark the various safety and security systems being practiced by the organisation against the stipulated framework.

The draft rating system is based on 19 key performance indicators (KPIs), which will be used as an assessment tool for rating the chemical organisations in respect of the practices followed by them, an official release said. 

The draft document envisages a star rating system to grade the chemical plants according to their performance.

Inadequate awareness about handling of hazardous chemicals and products may lead to serious accidents with severe consequences on people, property and the environment.

The rating system facilitates safe and secure handling, storage and processing of hazardous chemicals and in avoiding accidents and occupational diseases, the release pointed out.

The department chemicals and petrochemicals has sought suggestions from concerned ministries / departments, industrial associations, industries and citizens by the end of this month. 

After receiving the comments from various sources, the department will come out with the final `Chemical Plant Safety and Security Rating System.'

The ministry has invited public suggestions either by by post or e-mail at dirrt1@rediffmail.com / arun.agarwal@nic.in, the release said.