INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH

Course Name: Business English

Course Code: ENG105
Section: 8
Group No: 2

Topic Name: Toxic Gas Explosion in Chittagong Fertilizer Factory.

SUBMITTED TO:

Prof. Rabeya Begum
Lecturer
Independent University, Bangladesh

Moin Ibna Mahmud

ID: 2010668

NAME ID
Md. Al Abid Supto 1921719
Moin Ibna Mahmud 2010668
Sanzid Kabir Alvee 2010146
Indronil Banik 1931112
 Acknowledgement

This writing incident report provided us with the unique and challenging task of
creating a realistic Incident Report. An Incident Report requires a precise
technical writing style and incorporates exact and specific statistical information
within the report. An Incident Report is one of the most practical and applicable
assignments offered for business or professional oriented majors; that’s why I
found this assignment to be one of my favorites. Due to this assignment in
English 105 (Business English) and the guidance of Professor Rabeya Begum
throughout this semester, we’ll be able to take the writing skills we’ve learned
into our course.
 Executive summary

The purpose of this report is to enlighten you about the accidental explosion at
Chittagong fertilizer factory. There are many incidents arising surrounding us
which should be highlighted. Chittagong fertilizer gas explosion is one of them.
However, the sole liability of this accident is to be charged on Manager Director
and unskilled staff. A huge disaster occurred in Chittagong as a result of toxic
ammonia emissions from a fertilizer industry. In the factory, a gas tank exploded,
causing extensive damage. The toxic gas spread over the region, and many
individuals became ill as a result of inhaling the noxious odor. The majority of
them were factory employees. The authorities have yet to determine the cause or
causes of the catastrophe, and the Managing Director assured that the containers
were carefully maintained. A large number of firefighters banded together to put
an end to the factory's emissions. However, the air was still unsafe for civilians.
Many people became ill as a result of inhaling the deadly gas, and others were
hospitalized. When roughly 30 people were inside the factory, two 500-ton tanks
exploded. After crossing the main door, an operator heard a tremendous crash.
Another industrial worker struggled to breathe because he mistook the cloud of
smoke emerging from the exploded tank for fire.

Introduction

Industrial workers are exposed to a variety of hazards and accidents as a result of

growing industrialization. Thousands of workers are harmed each year as a result
of their jobs. The majority of the incidents were caused by safety difficulties and
a lack of knowledge. Gas explosions can occur due to a variety of factors,
including malfunctioning appliances or equipment, a leak, or inappropriate gas
appliance operation. Gases are chemical compounds that have the potential to
explode if held in an unstable atmosphere or exposed to an ignition source such
as heat or fire.
 Incident

Chittagong Fertilizer Factory

A gas explosion occurred in a fertilizer industry near Chittagong. Yesterday,

March 29, 2020, hazardous ammonia emissions at a Chittagong fertilizer facility
were brought under control. A gas tank exploded about 11 a.m., injuring almost
250 people. The damage was caused by an explosion at the plant on Saturday
night. The hazardous gas emitted by the exploding container was carried by the
wind to the Karnaphuli River and the Pategna district of the port city. The
citizens of Naval Academy, Chittagong airport, Chittagong port, Halishohor, and
Agrabad were sickened by an unpleasant odor. Meanwhile, 9 of the 52 people, all
of whom were manufacturing workers, were ill as a result of inhaling the
hazardous gas. According to DAP authorities, the two-unit mill began production
in 2006 and has a daily capacity of 1600 tons of diammonium phosphate
fertilizer. Through pipelines, ammonia is transported from a 5000 ton mother
storage tank to two 500 ton tanks. During production, raw material is delivered to
the facility from two tanks, according to a DAP factory official. Sixteen fire-
fighting units managed to stop the emission at the factory of DAP Fertilizer
Company Ltd in Anwara upazila around 9:00am by dissolving the toxic gas in
water, said fire service officials.
 Causes

The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined by authorities. "It is merely an
accident," BCIC Chairman Mohammad Iqbal remarked during a visit to the plant
yesterday morning. According to DAP's managing director, one of the two 500-ton
tanks had roughly 250 tons of ammonia in it on Saturday night. He said that the
container had a 25-year life expectancy and was well-maintained. When asked
about the cause of the explosion, he replied it was difficult to determine why it
occurred at this time.

Attempt

Sixteen firefighting units were able to stop the release at the DAP fertilizer
company's manufacturing by dissolving the toxic gas in water. They are still
attempting to completely dissolve the gas, according to the deputy assistant director
of fire service and civil defense in Chittagong. An air quality test conducted 140
meters from the source of emission indicated 600 parts per million of ammonia in
the air. According to the BCIC chairman, it was 20 ppm outside a 200-meter radius.
Meanwhile, 9 of the 52 people admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital
after becoming ill after inhaling dangerous gas were released the day before
yesterday. According to hospital sources, the bulk of the other patients' conditions
improved. Department of Environment officials said the DoE formed a 10-member
committee to investigate the incident.

Witness
● Witness One of the two 500 tons tanks exploded at the DAP on Saturday when
workers at the factory were changing shifts.

● Around 30 workerless were inside the factory during the blast, said a number of
factory workers.
● Atiqur Rahman, an operator at the DAP factory, said; he heard a loud bang
immediately after crossing the main entrance to the factory. He then drew black
smoke billowing out of the company. Many of the staff were hurrying to get out
 of the place, said Atiqur, who works the night shift.

● Ahsan Ullah, an Ansar member of DAP factory said; "I thought it was a fire
when I saw a cloud of smoke rising from the exploded tank. It was several
hundred degrees upwards." After a while, he found it hard to breathe. At one
point, he had almost fainted but somehow made his way to the gate, he added.

Conclusion
The majority of gas occurrences occur outside of the workplace, with natural gas
being the predominant gas source, according to an analysis of gas accidents.
Gases and recreational equipment are the most typical types of equipment
identified in utilization occurrences. Most utilization events were caused by
component failure and a lack of maintenance, indicating that additional
knowledge or education in this area may be required to prevent similar incidents.
As a result, the only way to avoid an incidence like this is to maintain it. Nearly
250 people injured & meanwhile, nine of the 52 people, admitted to Chittagong
Medical College. Not even the house of God is safe from the perils of human
negligence. Some, but by no means all, toxic gases are detectable by odor, which
can serve as a warning. Among the best known toxic gases are carbon monoxide,
chlorine, nitrogen dioxide and phosgene.

Recommendation

Once Benjamin Franklin said, “Never leave till tomorrow that which you can
do today.” So, Prevention is a must to avert all kinds of accidents. The possible
safety mechanisms to be implemented are:

 We have to organize & assemble all kinds of fire protection equipment

(fire extinguishers, control panels, etc.) which are easily accessible for
safety measures. Portable gas leak detectors should also be used by
manager as some of the gases cannot be perceived easily.
  It’s better not to operate any other electrical switches, appliance or
equipment if anyone presumes the leakages of any flammable substances.

 Keeping fire protection equipment for flammable substances near the

storage area (ventilated area) just in case.

 Setting warning & alarm level.

 Emergency and evacuation plans are important to prevent further damages

or issues if there is a gas explosion. Constructing routes to any safe havens
for rescuing is precisely recommended.

 The use of continuously recording gas-monitoring devices should be taken

into consideration.

 To accelerate a constant watch, the use of continuously recording gas-

monitoring devices (CCTV – Closed Circuit Television) should be taken
into consideration.

References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/gas-
disaster averted-ctg-1274602%3famp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.bdnews24.co

Chittagong Fertiliser Factory Blast: Gas disaster averted (thedailystar.net)

Toxic gas leak at Chittagong fertiliser factory | Dhaka Tribune

 Appendices

September 2016

March 2021

Hospitalized Victims

Fertilizer Factory Location Map in Chittagong