IEAT Shuts Down TSTH Steel Furnace after Explosion!
IEAT has ordered TSTH to shutdown its smelting furnace in its steel plant in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate after the explosion on the 6th Oct and expedite inspections, as well as formulate preventive measures within 15 days.
According to news reports, Ms. Somchint Pilouk, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), disclosed the progress into the investigations concerning the explosion in the industrial plant of Siam Construction Steel Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Steel (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (TSTH). Onsite inspections of the site which manufactures cement reinforcement steel bars and rebars, and operates a steel melting furnace located at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate has been carried out by the Environmental Monitoring and Control Center (EMCC) in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, and relevant agencies in the area.
It was found that the accident occurred while heating up the furnace. The problem came from the fuel system. Four people on duty were injured at the plant, and were sent to the Bangkok Rayong Hospital, where they are now no longer in critical condition. The site of the incident has also entered a state of normality, as well.
The IEAT, based on Section 37 of the Industrial Works Act, BE 2535 (1992), ordered the company to immediately cease its activities in areas around the furnace, and sent in officials to investigate the cause of the explosion. Safety measures to prevent recurrence by the company will have to be completed, and submitted to the IEAT within 15 days from the date of receiving the notice. Also, progress in the process have to be reported to the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.
On the day of the incident, Facebook user, Chinnapal Arunratchatatavee, posted: “A steel plant in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate explodes! 2-3 patients hospitalized”. A lot of comments were posted because the majority didn’t know what happened, and wondered why there wasn’t any news about the matter.
On the 7th of October, a clip of the events of the steel plant explosion in Map Ta Phut, in Rayong province was posted. The clip was recorded by a resident in Map Ta Phut community.
The Municipality of Map Ta Phut has clarified through a chat group for the people in the Map Ta Phut community that the municipality was aware of the explosion at the industrial plant, and that they have sent officials to investigate the scene. However, they did not notify the public because the situation did not require any response from the local management level, and that degree of the incident are differentiated according to the emergency contingency plans for each agency.