Headline:
Chemical Spill in West Bandung: Lawmaker Calls for Strict Penalties
Article:
JAVA BARAT, Indonesia – The Vice Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V, Syaiful Huda, suspects foul play behind the spill of caustic soda liquid, commonly known as soda ash, on the Purwakarta-Padalarang road in West Bandung, West Java, yesterday, December 24. Not only the driver, but the company overseeing the transport also deserves punishment if there has indeed been a violation.
The tanker truck carrying the hazardous and corrosive chemical leaked, causing the liquid to spill onto the road and leading to several accidents and vehicle damage. Several residents were also reported to have sustained injuries from the corrosive liquid.
According to Detikcom, Huda pointed out that there were indications of violations in the transportation of hazardous and poisonous materials (B3), including the incompleteness of the B3 transportation labels on the container body.
"Indications of violations include the incompleteness of the B3 transportation labels on the container body," Huda told reporters on December 25.
Moreover, Huda criticized the driver and the accompanying crew for not acting swiftly when the leak occurred, resulting in more than 100 motorcyclists and drivers becoming victims.
Huda believes that if the driver had followed the rules regarding B3 transportation set by the Director-General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, such incidents could have been prevented. He suspects that the driver did not possess the special certificate required for transporting B3 waste.
"A driver of B3 transportation doesn’t just need the general SIM license but must also have a special certificate from the Director-General of Land Transportation," Huda explained. This certificate ensures that the driver has adequate knowledge of the characteristics and nature of the chemical being transported and can take precautionary measures in case of a leak or emergency situation.
Penalties for the Company
Huda called for stern penalties not only for the driver but also for the company overseeing the B3 transportation. He also asked the Ministry of Transportation to conduct periodic inspections to minimize similar incidents involving chemical trucks.
"If there are no regular inspections, similar incidents could occur again, causing significant losses to the public," Huda warned.
More than 100 motorcyclists and drivers were affected by the soda ash spill in West Bandung. Some victims complained of irritation, itching, and heat in their eyes, while others suffered burns.
The incident occurred on December 24. Cimahi Police Chief AKBP Tri Suhartanto revealed that more than 100 people had been affected, with four being referred to a hospital for further treatment.
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