The cylinder explosion that occurred on the ground floor of a building in İzmir's Torbalı district, resulting in the death of 5 people and the injury of 63, has brought the issue of occupational health and safety back to the agenda.
Reminding that the term 'cylinder explosion' is often misunderstood, and the real problem is the explosion of gas leaking from the cylinder with a small spark when it reaches a certain concentration, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Rüştü Uçan said, “Detectors are necessary to prevent cylinder explosions. Primarily, this is the most important issue. When the gas level is at 1 percent, the detector gives an alarm. When an alarm comes, the restaurant owner or the waiters should close the cylinder, prevent the incoming gas flow, open the doors, and then evacuate other people present there.”
Occupational Health and Safety Expert Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl: “By learning from such accidents, we need to develop a safety culture and implement necessary precautions. Natural gas should be used, and detectors should be made mandatory in industry. It is important to issue legislation to make gas detectors mandatory in homes as well.”
Head of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety Department, Assist. Prof. Dr. Rüştü Uçan and Occupational Health and Safety Expert Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl evaluated the cylinder explosion that occurred on the ground floor of a building in İzmir's Torbalı district, which resulted in the death of 5 people and the injury of 63, from the perspective of occupational health and safety.
When the gas escaping from the cylinder reaches a certain level, an explosion occurs with a small spark
Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Rüştü Uçan stated that the term "cylinder explosion" is often misunderstood, and the real problem is the explosion of gas leaking from the cylinder with a small spark when it reaches a certain concentration. He explained, "When the gas escaping from the cylinder reaches a certain level, an explosion occurs with a small spark. When we say cylinder explosion, we understand 'the cylinder bursts,' but that's not the case. Detectors are necessary to prevent cylinder explosions or an explosion from a leak. Primarily, this is the most important issue. When the gas level is at 1 percent, the detector gives an alarm. When an alarm comes, the restaurant owner or the waiters should close the cylinder, prevent the incoming gas flow, open the doors, and then evacuate other people present there."
Natural gas should be turned off in homes when going on vacation!
Reminding that in a similar situation at homes, the gas should be cut off, and then doors and windows should be opened, Assist. Prof. Dr. Rüştü Uçan said, "Also, we should definitely turn off the natural gas when going on vacation. Let there be no accumulation. Later, even a tiny spark is enough. Even a tiny spark inside the phone when someone calls us is enough for an explosion. Because this is gas. Or if we open the refrigerator or turn on the lamp, an explosion occurs. We need to understand this very well."
Cylinder hoses need to be changed every 2-3 years!
Assist. Prof. Dr. Rüştü Uçan also pointed out that the connections of cylinders and industrial cylinders must be made correctly, stating, "For connections made with hoses, these hoses need to be changed every 2-3 years. The hose ages by itself and cracks. Leaks can occur from these cracks. Such problems can also arise. We need to change the hoses every 3 years. If there is a leak or a smell, we need to change them. There are also special pipes for industrial types. They need to be used."
Both LPG and natural gas have specific explosion limits
Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Health and Safety Department, in his assessment of the issue, stated that LPG used in industrial cylinders is a petroleum-derived gas consisting of propane and butane, reminding that this gas accumulates on the ground because it is heavier than air, while natural gas accumulates higher up because it is lighter than air.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl said, "Both gases have specific explosion limits. While the explosion limit for natural gas is 5 percent by volume, the explosion limit for LPG is around 2-2.1 percent. This means LPG becomes explosive with a smaller accumulation. In terms of explosion risk, both gases are evaluated under ATEX (explosive atmospheres), and in these environments, it is primarily necessary to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere, to avoid ignition if formed, and to take measures to reduce the effects of the explosion if ignited. These measures are the employer's responsibility within the framework of relevant legislation and regulations."
Is natural gas explosion the same as LPG explosion?
Noting that as a result of LPG leakage from an industrial cylinder, an explosive atmosphere is created when the gas exceeds 2 percent by volume, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl warned, "In this situation, if the gas cannot be diluted, an explosion occurs. The explosion has a destructive effect; it demolishes walls, shatters windows, deforms vehicles, and can injure or kill people. There is no significant difference between a natural gas explosion and an LPG explosion; both are flammable and explosive. The only difference is that natural gas is lighter than air and accumulates higher up, while LPG is heavier than air and accumulates on the ground. Therefore, necessary precautions should be taken to prevent the formation of an explosive atmosphere for both gases."
Automatic cut-offs are not common in industrial cylinders
Pointing out that the use of industrial cylinders, their reasons, and safety measures in the place where the explosion occurred in İzmir should be questioned, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl said, "The judicial investigation will reveal the reasons for cylinder use. If natural gas had been used, an explosion might not have occurred due to the mandatory gas detector, because the detector would have detected the gas concentration and cut off the gas. While manual alarm detectors may exist in industrial cylinders, automatic cut-offs are not common. It is important to question whether such detectors are present in workplaces. Whether occupational safety specialists conducted a risk assessment should also be investigated. These issues will be clarified by the judicial investigation."
Approval from all apartments is required
Stating that during the process of granting a business license on the ground floor of a seven-story building, approval from all apartments is required, but most people do not question the use of flammable materials or the presence of natural gas detectors during this process, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl said, "The lack of a safety culture leads to the failure to make necessary inquiries for the safety of people in the vicinity. By learning from such accidents, we need to develop a safety culture and implement necessary precautions. Natural gas should be used, and detectors should be made mandatory in industry. It is important to issue legislation to make gas detectors mandatory in homes as well."
The suffocating effect of gas should not be forgotten, the environment should be ventilated quickly
Emphasizing that detectors are effective equipment in preventing gas leaks and their use should be made mandatory, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl said, "Detectors should also be installed for personal safety in places where they are not mandatory. It is recommended to use two detectors in industrial areas to increase safety. Periodic checks of detectors are important; otherwise, faulty detectors can lead to disaster. Natural gas leaks can be detected thanks to odorized natural gas. In case of a leak, precautions such as not touching electrical switches, not using fire, not entering with a mobile phone, and ventilating by opening windows should be taken. Furthermore, the suffocating effect of gas should not be forgotten. Therefore, rapid ventilation and evacuation of the area are important. Citizens should be informed about this."
Inspections need to be intensified in living areas
Stating that accidents caused by natural gas and industrial cylinder explosions highlight the need for awareness, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl said, "Building residents need to be informed about the workplaces on the ground floor and conduct a risk assessment. Regular inspection of such businesses is important. It is observed that businesses that receive a license from the municipality are not inspected for a long time even after receiving a fire report, which increases risks. While inspections are carried out regularly in Organized Industrial Zones, these inspections also need to be intensified in living areas."
Also pay attention to bakeries!
In addition to natural gas explosions, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nuri Bingöl emphasized that the flour used in bakeries is also flammable and explosive, concluding his words by saying, "Dust explosions occur when substances like flour, especially when suspended in the air, become explosive like natural gas. Such risks exist in bakeries. Building residents need to be informed about the use of dangerous materials like natural gas and flour in the workplaces on their ground floors and a risk assessment needs to be carried out."