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 It also found Shanghai Yueri Liquid Ammonia Gas Company was also responsible as it was using out of date and corroded cylinders.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)