Industrial and Environmental Disaster Risk Assessment for Hazardous Materials in Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Industrial disasters may cause massive public health problems, as they create large environmental damage and major loss of life. Balikpapan City has experienced a large oil spill which caused an industrial and environmental disaster: five fishermen died, various public health problems arose, and damage to environmental wildlife and ecosystems occurred. The objective of this study was to evaluate the industrial and environmental disaster risk related to hazardous material (hazmat) in Balikpapan. The research method involved the use of a semi-quantitative risk analysis with an originally organized checklist, a risk matrix, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. The results suggested that the risk score in Balikpapan's City is 32 (MEDIUM; the dominant types of hazmat were flammables and corrosives). The major sectors contributing to the risk appeared to be the mining, energy, and oil and gas industries, with a medium risk (average risk score 33), while one clean water industry showed a low risk (risk score 24) using the checklist and risk matrix. According to the results from the GIS mapping, the areas t the highest risks appeared to be located within Balikpapan City coastal regions. The industries and the government of Balikpapan must be prepared for industrial and environmental disasters by educating competent major hazmat responders and ensuring a large spills response equipment, extensive environmental monitoring and measurement, procedures to deal with major fire and explosions and adequate disaster communication and coordination.

Automated summary

Industrial disasters can lead to massive public health problems and environmental damage. The Balikpapan City oil spill resulted in the death of five fishermen, public health problems, and damage to wildlife and ecosystems. A study using risk analysis and GIS mapping found that the major hazmat risks in Balikpapan were flammables and corrosives, with the mining, energy, and oil and gas industries being the main contributors. Coastal areas in Balikpapan were identified as high-risk zones. The industries and government of Balikpapan need to be prepared for disasters by training hazmat responders, ensuring response equipment, monitoring the environment, and establishing disaster communication and coordination.