The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has found that the 32-hour-long fire at Shell's Pulau Bukom refinery was caused by preparation work for maintenance.
An investigation conducted by the MOM's Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate found that a suction truck that was involved in siphoning residual oil through a pipeline could have cause a spark and ignited the oil, reported The Straits Times.
The fire eventually spread and became a lot bigger within the area of the pump house. The petroleum company has confirmed that it they have declared force majeure on a few clients as more investigations continue.
Force majeure is a clause used commonly in contracts that frees parties from liability when an uncontrollable event happens.
Shell's safety procedures are also under scrutiny by MOM.
There were no casualties resulting from the fire that started last Wednesday last until Thursday night.
Source: www.asiaone.com 4 Oct 2011
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