Ohio (USA), Friday, February 3, 2023.
In a small town called East Palestine, 40 kilometers from Pittsburgh, a freight train with 141 wagons is preparing to transport a series of goods to Conway (Pennsylvania).
East Palestine's 4,800 residents hoped to start another weekend.
What they probably didn't expect is that the train departing from Madison, Illinois, would suddenly disrupt their lives.
The train derailment
At 20:55 local time, 50 wagons of the freight train operated by Northfolk Southern Railway suffered a derailment, some of which contained dangerous goods, mostly vinyl chloride.
The explosion is immediate since vinyl chloride is an unstable gas at high temperatures and easily ignited.
This substance is mainly used in industry to manufacture polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC plastic. But, in addition, it is a substance that is linked to an increased risk of liver cancer.
The fire quickly spreads to other wagons that contained more dangerous substances:
- Liquid fuels
- Butyl acrylate (used to make synthetic fibers)
- Benzene waste from cars he also transported
In addition, the train carried other non-dangerous goods such as wheat, malted liquors, etc.
What caused the accident?
It is still too early to know what the causes of the derailment were, although the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a preliminary resolution, pointed out that, probably, a mechanical problem in the rail axles could have caused the accident.
According to a briefing given by Michael Graham, a member of the NTSB, it will take between 18 and 24 months until it can be concluded with total certainty what happened so that 50 cars of that freight train ended up derailing.
But what can be more certain is that inefficient maintenance and supervision have led to this accident.
The immediate consequences of the accident
An evacuation order was issued for the inhabitants of East Palestine, because of the risks that could exist from the release of toxic gases in the wake of the explosion, since the burning of vinyl chloride also causes the release of hydrogen chloride and phosgene.
Although it was reported that the air quality readings did not show any worrying data, residents of towns near East Palestine commented that there was a chemical smell in the air.
By February 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that indoor and outdoor air quality in the area had returned to normal levels.
The evacuation order was therefore lifted.
Still, residents of East Palestine remain concerned about the potential long-term health effects, with dead fish in the area's streams, with more lifeless wildlife.
This is likely to be so, given that the EPA reported in a letter to Norfolk Southern that the chemicals carried by the train continue to be released into the air, soil, and surface water.
Given the magnitude of the immediate effects of this accident, it is already considered an environmental disaster.
Meanwhile, it will be 18 to 24 months, according to the NTSB, until it can be confirmed what really caused the train derailment, which caused East Palestine residents to leave their homes one winter afternoon.
And, above all, we will have to see, if there are any, long-term consequences on the health of the people who live in the affected area.
The importance of investing in safety and efficiency
As they have commented from the NTSB, it is likely that a mechanical failure triggered the accident. But even more likely it was due to a lack of security awareness, and investment in means to work safely and efficiently.
Especially in this case, where clearly the wagons transported by this train could be considered explosive atmospheres of type 0, where preventive measures must be excellent.
We emphasize investment and not expense, since putting means to reduce the chances of accidents, is at the same time a way to avoid costs, not only economic, but environmental and social, as the case of East Palestine demonstrates.
If you need technical advice and security training, do not hesitate to contact us.
You may also be interested in:
White Paper on Explosive Atmospheres
Sources:
Washington Post - Residents wonder whether it's safe to return after toxic train derailment
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Norfolk Southern East Palestine Train Derailment General Notice Letter
La Razón (Spanish Newspaper) - 'Chernobil' en Ohio: Evacuaciones tras descarrilar y explotar un tren de mercancías con sustancias tóxicas ('Chernobyl' in Ohio: Evacuations After Derrailing and Exploding a Freight Train with Toxic Substances)
WFMJ - NTSB confirms rail car axle issue caused Norfolk Southern train derailment
The Guardian - Ohio catastrophe is 'wake-up call' to dangers of deadly train derailments
Image: 2023 Ohio train derailment - National Transportation Safety Board - Source: Reuters - Public Domain