U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSE TO TIANJIN, CHINA EXPLOSIONS - AUGUST 2015 - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
U.S. PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSE
TO TIANJIN, CHINA EXPLOSIONS
AUGUST 2015
Incident Summary
On the evening of August 12, two large explosions took
place in an industrial area of Tianjin’s Binhai New
Development Zone (approximately 100 miles southeast
of Beijing). At least 139 people were killed, and more
than 700 people were hospitalized.
The explosions occurred at a warehouse known to
house potentially hazardous materials, including
toluene diisocyanate, calcium carbide, and sodium
cyanide, raising concerns about potential health and
safety implications for U.S. private-sector employees.
blast site
Beijing
Tianjin
CHINAProvision of Official Guidance
Yes
Nearly three-fourths of respondents
27%
Percentage of indicated that they had not directly
respondents that received any health or safety
received health and guidance from local authorities
safety guidance from following the incident. Official
No
local authorities Chinese media has acknowledged
73% that highly toxic concentrations of
cyanide compounds have been
identified inside the core blast zone,
but have asserted that air and water
standards outside that area are not at
Official Statements hazardous levels.
“Sixteen of the 73 soil samples collected within a five-kilometer radius of Although details of the Tianjin blasts
the blast's center have been found to contain toxic cyanide are still emerging, China has a history
but none of them exceed the national standard.” of deadly industrial accidents due to
loose regulation and official
-- Tian Weiyong, director of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's
Environment Emergency Center corruption. On August 26, two weeks
after the explosions, the head of
China’s State Administration of Work
“Seven of 26 water monitoring stations in the core blast zone have detected
concentrations of highly toxic cyanide compounds exceeding the national Safety, was fired due to “serious
standard with the highest being 54.6 times. The air and water outside the breaches of the law and discipline,”
core zone all proved to be within the national standard.” according to official state media.
--Deng Xiaowen, head of the Tianjin Environment Monitoring CenterConfidence in Official Guidance
Participants were asked to rate their
Environmental 25% confidence in both the environmental
Impact information and the guidance provided by
20% local authorities on a scale of 1 to 10. The
responses were almost a mirror image of
15% one another, with an overwhelming
13% 13% percentage of respondents indicating a
10% low level of confidence in both.
5%
(85% rated 5 out of 10 or less)
Low High
confidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 confidence
3% 3%
(83% rated 5 out of 10 or less)
This appears to align with broader
frustration at a lack of transparency.
13% 13% 13% Leading experts – including the UN’s
Special Rapporteur on human rights and
18% hazardous substances and wastes – have
20% 20% criticized restrictions on access to health
Health Guidance and safety information, curbs on press
freedoms, and the absence of
independent investigations.Constituent-Mandated Health Precautions
Just over half of all respondent
To be organizations mandated some form of
determined health precaution. The principal guidance
20% Yes was to stay outside of the 3km exclusion
zone.
55%
This was followed by advisories to:
No • Wear respiratory masks (N95) while
outdoors*
25% • Close windows and use air purifiers
while indoors
• Drink bottled water
• Limit outdoor activities
• Monitor situation and follow official
guidance
*It should not be assumed that over-the-counter face masks that are not National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certified will help prevent inhaling dust, particles,
gas, or vapors. Only NIOSH certified respirators can be assumed to prevent exposure – and
that assumption is based on the proper use, fit testing, medical clearance, etc. That applies to
all NIOSH certified respirators from N-95s up to CBRN certified respirators.Constituent Impact
Approximately a week after the incident, nearly half of all respondents indicated that they were back to
business as usual, though some had temporarily suspended operations immediately following the blasts. The
same was true of respondent travel, though around one-fifth had restricted non-essential travel. Most of these
restrictions emphasized the core blast zone (3km radius immediately surrounding the blast site), rather than
the entire municipality (4,450 sq. mi.).
Operations 43% Travel
33%
20%
13%
10%
5% Upcoming
Initially non-essential
Remain suspended, Business All travel travel Travel
suspended since resumed as usual suspended suspended unaffected
Significant IMPACT Limited Significant IMPACT LimitedSources of Information
• Xinhua
Percentage of respondents who rely on the respective source of information: • People’s Daily
• China Daily
• Channel News Asia
Traditional media (82%) • New York Times
• Reuters
• CNN
• “Tianjin Blast Highlights China’s
OSAC (77%) Industrial Security Challenges”
• OSAC East Asia-Pacific Analyst
• ISOS
Security vendors (59%) • NC4
• BSI Screen
Local personnel (57%)
• Hashtags: #Tianjin; #TianjinBlast
Social media (57%) • Handles: @PDChina; @XHNews; @CCTVNews
Local health/ • Ministry of Environmental Protection's Environment Emergency Center
• Tianjin Environment Monitoring Center
environmental authorities (43%)
U.S. Embassy messaging (43%) • Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Tianjin Chemical Explosion ( 17 Aug)Primary Concerns for the Future
Respondents indicated whether the following were primary concerns for their operations moving forward:
Employee Health/Safety (88%) Disruption/Loss of Business (39%)
The direct impact of the explosion to the U.S. private Despite initial disruptions in and around the site of the
sector, including injuries to personnel and significant explosion, most business operations appear to have
facility damage, appears to have been somewhat normalized. This includes the import and export of
modest. Limited transparency, combined with a large quantities of commodities, which was
genuine lack of understanding by officials of the temporarily halted immediately following the
hazardous materials and their effects, however, has explosion. There have been some reports of minor
left almost all respondents concerned with the long- delays, but overall long-term impact appears to be
term health implications for their employees. modest.
Physical/Structural Damage (22%) Additional Explosions (19%)
Estimates suggest that the explosion damaged around Authorities appear to have the situation in Tianjin
17,000 homes and affected the assets and production under control, and are investigating executives from
of 1,600 enterprises. One long-term effect of the the firm which housed the dangerous goods involved
incident is an erosion of confidence in the ability and in the explosion. Investigations by Greenpeace and
willingness of officials to declare whether facilities are the New York Times, however, suggest a number of
located in or around dangerous materials. Another other facilities throughout China that are believed to
involves the structural integrity of buildings that may be housing hazardous chemicals and may be in
have been affected by the blast. violation of safe distance regulations.About the Survey
Beijing
71%
Tianjin
49%
Other
24%
OSAC received a high volume of inquiries following the August 12 explosions. To
better understand the U.S. private-sector response, OSAC conducted a brief survey
from August 20-25 among organizations with operations in China (percentages
reflect where respondents have operations). This report is a summary and analysis of
the responses from the more than 40 participating organizations.
For more information on this report or the general security situation in China please
email OSAC’s Regional Analyst for East Asia and the Pacific .You can also read
