A chemical company and a trucking firm were ordered to pay more
than 80,000 yuan (US$9,877) in total to a group of seven villagers
from Nanhui District of Shanghai who were affected by a liquid
ammonia gas leak last year.
The Nanhui District People's Court announced the ruling late
last week against Shanghai Yueri Liquid Ammonia Gas Company and
Qingcun Traffic Administrative Station, a transport company based
in Fengxian District.
The seven victims were the first of 100 villagers affected by
the leak to take the two companies to court. The incident occurred
on the very hot afternoon of July 4, 2005 when a cylinder filled
with liquid ammonia exploded. The cylinder was one of 10 loaded on
a truck parked outside a restaurant in Huinan Town, Nanhui
District.?
The truck driver and his assistant, brothers surnamed Chu, were
transporting the dangerous chemicals to a local dairy company but
they stopped to have lunch and left the chemicals exposed to direct
sunlight.
Following the huge explosion about 200 kilograms of poisonous
gas spread across an area of 200 square meters. Nearby residents,
including the seven appellants, were taken to hospital where
doctors confirmed they had been lightly poisoned by the ammonia.
Doctors said there would be no long-term affects.
A technical analysis report released a week later said the blast
was caused by a combination of three factors. The chemical
containers were left in the sun, the ammonia was being kept in old,
decaying cylinders and they were overly full, said the
report.?
In November, the seven plaintiffs filed a suit seeking 110,000
yuan as the ammonia had harmed their health.
The court said the Qingcun Traffic Administrative Station didn't
properly supervise the transport of the chemicals. It also found
Shanghai Yueri Liquid Ammonia Gas Company was also responsible as
it was using out of date and corroded cylinders.
The driver and his brother were guilty of violating safety
regulations but won't have to pay any compensation as the accident
occurred when they were carrying out their official duties and
their employer was at fault the court ruled.
(Shanghai Daily March 27, 2006)