Patcharapol Panrak
Executives at a Maptaput tin factory are under fire for
allegedly covering up a fatal explosion for more than a week.
Maptaput Industrial
Estate Director Pratheep Engchuan says that Siam Tin Plate Co. failed to
report a July 20 chemical-tank explosion that killed a 48-year-old
contractor.
Maptaput Industrial Estate Director Pratheep Engchuan
accused Siam Tin Plate Co. of failing to report the July 20
chemical-tank explosion that killed 48-year-old contractor Pranai
Inphanao in order to protect the company’s reputation. Pratheep said he
learned of the incident from police July 28.
Pranai died at Bangkok Hospital Rayong July 20 after a tank containing
recycled sodium hydroxide exploded in the factory’s chromium-dipping
facility. The explosion caused the tank’s lid to fall on the victim.
Officials suspect the explosion occurred after the compound reacted with
hydrogen gas released during steel-coil cleaning.
Pratheep said Maptaput Security Information Center regulations required
Siam Tin to report the accident within 10 minutes. The requirement is in
place to prevent industrial accidents from spreading and causing panic.
The security office has now shut down Siam Tin’s chromium-dipping
operation until the cause of the accident can be determined and the
company’s safety measures examined. The company was given seven days to
report its findings and have safety procedures certified by outside
experts.
Pratheep also said that because of the company’s willful defiance of
industrial estate safety rules, it will not be allowed to fly the flag
with white and green stars which certifies a plant that has passed a
safety inspection and cooperates with authorities.
Maptaput Police Superintendent Col. Saeree Sathkorn said officers have
expedited an investigation of the event and criminal recklessness
charges are expected.
