Thursday December 19, 10:17 PM
S'pore and M'sia ready to respond to any chemical spill at Second Link
Singapore and Malaysian authorities say they are ready to respond to any chemical spill or attack at the Tuas Second Link.
They said they have improved their response time to incidents after a chemical spill exercise on Thursday morning.
However it was not all smooth sailing during the exercise.
During the exercise, the participants learnt to handle a simulated cloud of toxic chlorine fumes released after a lorry bound for Singapore overturned.
The Malaysian authorities received the call about the incident at 9.30 in the morning from the lorry driver.
Unlike previous emergency response exercises - the exercise this time round was conducted real-time to see how quickly both sides at the Second Link respond in such an emergency.
The Malaysian firemen arrived at about 10am - not too good for the passengers - as they would have been exposed to chlorine for half an hour and seriously hurt.
The Singapore authorities received the call at 10am and got there in ten minutes.
And it was no rehearsal when a Malaysian fireman had difficulties breathing while all suited up in the Hazmat protective gear.
Fortunately after some fresh air he was fine.
Singapore's Civil Defence force was on-hand to disperse the 'chlorine' vapour and clean up the spill.
Some 40,000 tonnes of hazardous chemicals like phenol and ammonia are moved along the bridge each year.
There have been no accidents of this nature since the Second Link opened four years ago.
But authorities say such exercises help prepare the agencies to handle any situation - including a chemical terrorist attack.
Foong Chee Leong, Head, Pollution Control, National Environment Agency, said: "If we are prepared for an accident, we should be able to use our experience in accidents to deal with whatever scenario it is."
As for improving response time, the authorities say they will work with companies which transport chemicals to educate lorry drivers on how to react in an emergency.
Tan Soon Fuan, Police District Chief, Johor Bahru, said: "Practice makes perfect - we have to continue to improve on this aspect."
More than 150 personnel from both sides were involved in the exercise.
Ideas??? Comments??? With the recent terrorists threats, what about a non-accidental chem spill???
I'm fatalistic. .