Risk for accidental leaks of liquefied petroleum gas to workers and community in Nacimiento, Cabrero, La Laja y Mulchén cities (Chile)

Abstract

The risks of LPG from storage tanks to workers and  community in four cities in Chile were assessed. The information from the tanks was obtained from public and private sources, complemented with field work. Tanks with capacities of 2 m3 and 4 m3 were considered. The methodologies for the risk analysis of NTP 937 (2012) and APELL (2015), in addition to the Slab View software to model the spatial and temporal behavior of leaks were applied. As a result, 41 LPG tanks were identified. From the analysis of the application of the NTP 937 (2012) methodology it was obtained that the risk by inhalation in 8 of the 9 jobs evaluated is of a moderate level and that the job with the highest occupational risk corresponds to the domestic worker with a moderate risk and a priority for action class 2. So corrective actions and a more detailed evaluation are probably required. Using the APELL (2015) methodology, it was obtained that in the four cities, LPG leaks would have an effect on workers and the community at a class B and C priority level, in the latter case causing serious injuries and serious complications to workers or persons. Finally, with Slab View it was obtained that there is no risk of intoxication because the exposure times for a concentration of 10000 ppm are less than the 10 min suggested by the AEGL levels (EPA, 2016) and that there are time-distance situations where concentrations of 19000 ppm are reached and that could cause deflagration and an eventual explosion.