Document byzO7qpDbYzJDo3Lj5jpE5mN6

0020942 ,W,;w*/' fi THE ASSOCIATED ETHYL COMPANY LIMITED ARTILLERY HOUSE, ARTILLERY ROW, LOSDOS.S.KI telephone . ABBEY 3974 telegrams: ETHYLPORT. SOWEST. LONDON OUR REF- ST/3/240 YOUR REF. 11th December, 1950. Dr. R. A. Kehoe, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. U.S.A. Dear Bob, We regret to have to inform you of a second recent tank cleaning incident - on this occasion during the cleaing of an underground storage tank at Singapore. For your information, we are enclosing a copy of a report with a covering letter which was sent by the Shell Company of Singapore to our Australian office. This report sets out the main details of the accident, but at the same time it discloses the lack of essential information on the part of the individual who was in charge of the tank cleaning operation, as well as poor staff work in not arranging suitable and immediate medical attention. The point which makes this accident the more regrettable is that our tank cleaning regulations (which are in the possession of the Shell Company, Singapore) are always considered by Shell, London, as being the minimum precautions necessary during tank cleaning operations. In addition to this, an existing instruction from Shell, London, states that no underground tank should be entered without previous reference to the London office. No such reference was made in this case. This unfortunate incident has been fully discussed with the Shell Company in London, and the Chief Engineer of Shell, Singapore, who was on leave in England at the time of the incident, was present at the discussion. We are confident that Shell will do all in their power to prevent a similar incident within their organisation. For our part we are undertaking a complete programme of tank cleaning discussions with our customers on a world-wide basis and we sincerely hope that our efforts will be successful in preventing any further accidents. The latest information we have concerning the condition of the 3 Malayan labourers is that they are progressing favourably, and their recovery to full health is expected. Yours sincerely, CHN/bjw Re 0020943 C. H. HOBLE. In reply please quota Ho. P.3191 ;>qry i- CONFIDENTIAL P.O.BOX 643 'Jt'A&ial* iiUtirfii, COL LYUH QUAY, UIUGAPORX. 19th October 1950 The Associated 3thyl Co. Ltd., 363 Collins Street, MeIbourne, C.1., l .vH.IaiSXA 3<ti Dear 3ir: bOOPLAUDS HORTH DEPOT U jr jU cxnn/* r r?r a __ u :.t A'-J* 0A30LTH3 I ; iU Following up our cable to you of 11th October, and in response to your reply dated 12th October, we attach herewith a report from our Singapore Branch office which acts out full details in connection with the occurrence of probable lead poisoning in 3 Malay labourers consequent upon trail: cleaning operations at Woodlands Berth Depot, Tank Ho. 3 at this Depot is the centre tank of a group of horizontal, flat ended tanks, each 20'-O" diameter k IpO *-0" long, constructed in 194-1 in accordance with Air Ministry "fully protected" standards, i.e, the tanks are com pletely covered by sorm 30* of earth with a 2f-0" thick re inforced concrete casing around the tanks. There is a 2*-6" dtametor access manhole at the front end of each tank, where are also located the pipe connections, and access to manhole and valves is by means of a concrete lined tunnel which also carried the pipelines. The tanks are braced internally -with 4" x 3" angle iron rings and diagonal stays, at lO'-Q" inter vals. Along the top centre line of each tank are two V* dia meter connections, spaced at 37*-6w.-and 112'-o'* from the front end, with vent pipes leading up through the earth cover to open air. Thi3 tank was in use for a short period during the latter part of the Japanese occupation for the storage of Aviation Gasoline and was emntied late in 194-5 but. as far as we know, wa3 not cleaned out. The tank remained in this con dition until late in 1947 when it was again put into commission for storage of 100 Octane Aviation Gasoline. Ho attempt was made to clean out the tank before recommissioning, as protec tive clothing and equipment was not available. 3in.ee' 1947 the tank has been continuously In use for tho storage of 100 Octane Aviation Gasoline containing approximately 4*3 ec of "Ethyl" fluid per 1 Imperial gallon. ^ o020944 N 24426.01 Z la view of the long period since the tank was known to have been cleaned, a gas freeing and cloaning cut was considered highly desirable, while at the same time this treatment was a necessary preliminary to the provision of a concrete bed along the tank bottom to facilitate drain age of water and to avoid the pockets of water retained by the bracing angle rings. Recalibration of the tank had also become necessary, which process would be simplified by the presence of the concrete bed, while recommissioning of the tank was becoming a matter of urgency in order to release other tankage at Woodlands douth Depot for do-bricking and cleaning. When the manhole was removed from the tank after the water filling operations, the bottom of the tank was found to contain a thin black liquid, with minute particles of solid matter in suspension, and unlike the thick, frothy slurry of sludge normally found la gasoline tanks. This was retained by the angle bracing rings to a maximum depth, of 4 inches. Do smell of gasoline or other offensive matter was present but only a slight muddy odour. \fter tho wash ing but period and before personnel entered thetank a second time, only a vary small quantity of this liquid remained in the tank, trapped behind the angle rings. The attached report sots out in detail the work which was carried out on this tank,.and the extent to which the various personnel ware exposed to risk from load fumes. It also explains how the throb labourers were first affected, and the action taken in regard to medical examination and treatment. Dr. Frame - Dr. Bain is at present in tho U.K. on leave - is writing to you giving in greater detail, from the medical point of view, particulars of the illno33 of these men} the present condition of two of them, Khatais bin Mohoaed and All bin Abu B-akar, is that they are "pro gressing favourably", and the third, Ahmad bin Hamid, is now normal but is still in hosnital under observation* With regard to the availability of respirators referred to in para* 16 of the enclosed report, there were in fact 2 sets of "Bloman'* hand operated blower type masks available at the 3lte, but experience has shown that the air supply in these masks Is quite inadequate for anything but the shortest period of us, in spacious surroundings, whereas for the xtraiaaly hot and badly ventilated conditions as existed in Tank ho, 3 at 'Woodlands North, it would have been quite impossible to move around jmach less carry out work, m addition the hose of tho apparatus is entirely inadequate for a tank 1?0 * long. A power operated compressor unit, with 6 air-line masks, is available at rule Bukom installation, but this outfit is in more or less continuous uso and could not be spared on loan to Woodlands, Three other power operated compressor units are on order with London*, one for Pulo Bamboo and two others for use at Malayan Depots, 'which were ordered at the time the difficulties in connection with cleaning Tank No. 3 at Woodlands wore realised. KE 0020945 .,Wi#u i;,o nnvv ooea cleaned, a. gas freeing and cleaning ant was considered highly desirable, while at the same tim this treatment was a necessary preliminary to the provision of a concrete bed along the tank bottom to facilitate drain age of water and to avoid the pockets of water retained by the bracing angle rings# Recallbration of the tank had also become necessary, which process would be simplified by the presence of the concrete bed, while recommissioning of the tank v&3 becoming a matter of urgency in order to release other tankage at Woodlands South Depot for do-bricking and cleaning* when the manhole was removed from the tank after the water filling operations, the bottom of the tank was found to contain a thin black liquid, with minute particles of solid natter in suspension, and unlike the thick, frothy slurry of sludge normally found In gasoline tanks. This was retained by the angle bracing rings to a tascdLsma depth of b inches. Ho smell of gasoline or other offensive matter was present but only a slight muddy odour. After the wash ing out period and before personnel entered the tank a second tine, only a very small quantity of this liquid remained in the tank, trapped behind the angle rings. The attached report sets out in detail the work which was carried out on this tank, and the extent to which the various personnel were exposed to risk from lead fumes. It also explains how the three labourers were first affected, and the action taken in regard to medical examination and treatment. Dr. Frame - Dr. Bain is at present in the U.K. on leave - is writing to you giving in. greater detail, from the medical point of view, particulars of the illness of these men; the present condition of two of them, Khanis bin Mohomed and All bin Abu Bakar, is that they are "pro gressing favour ably and the third, Ahmad bin Hamid,`is now normal but is still in hospital under observation. v/ith regard to the availability of respirators referred to In para. 16 of the enclosed report, there were in fact 2 sets of "Bloman'1 hand operated blower type masks available at the site, but experience has shown that the air supply in these masks Is quite inadequate for anything but the shortest period of use, in snacioussurroundings, whereas for the extremely hot and badly ventilated conditions as existed in Tank No. 3 at v/oodlands North, it would have been quite -^.possible to move around much legs carry out work, an addition the hose of the apparatus, rrrrfcrrrratxon, for a tank 150.L.J-e*v*3---* av^xsgfsr au Auip , could with. 6 air-li"t X3* continuous uses an* eouia St-'btheisspoaruedtfiot nis1" woodl,,andos.rderTwhrieteh oLothnedor np,owoner. for operated compressor ,iae Malayan Depots, wnicn ?ulo Aamboe and two othe ^ difficulties in connection viwh clolnlS'3 at Woodlands vofe renUsed. K we trust that the foregoing yjjcident, and we ahull circumstances of this towards recovery continue to advise you as to *atpJfSent in hospital, yhich is made by the three men at P** Tours truly, For THE SHELL COMPANY OF SINGAPORE LIMITED 0020946 - (sgd) w. m>mm