Boksburg tanker disaster inspires award-winning safety study by local engineering graduate

When Princess Dube chose to analyse the devastating Boksburg LPG tanker explosion for her engineering project, she was motivated by more than academic interest.

The December 2022 disaster, which claimed 41 lives and injured dozens more when a gas tanker exploded under a railway bridge, had deeply affected the local community and the nation at large.

Her personal connection to the incident and thorough analysis not only earned her the prestigious international SIESO Medal but transformed her understanding of how local engineering solutions can have global impact.

The SIESO Medal is awarded annually by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) to an individual or team of students for the best presentation of a major accident and the lessons learned.

The competition, aimed at raising awareness of process safety among science, business, and engineering students, requires a written description in the style of a Loss Prevention Bulletin article, accompanied by a creative method of communicating the learnings - such as a video, infographic, or animation.

For her award-winning entry, Princess chose the Boksburg LPG tanker explosion that occurred in December 2022 as her case study - an incident that struck close to home and had a profound impact on her.

“While many past winners focused on historical global disasters, such as the Flixborough explosion, I wanted to address a recent, local incident.

"The Boksburg accident resonated deeply with me, not only because of its tragic impact on the community, but because I had firsthand knowledge of the area and the people affected. I believed that this connection would add depth and relevance to my analysis,” she said.

Her entry offered a detailed examination of the key events, impact, and critical lessons from the Boksburg tragedy.

To make the insights more accessible, Princess developed a compelling infographic that visually captured the main takeaways and safety recommendations, reinforcing the importance of preventing similar incidents in the future.

“Winning the SIESO Medal has been a transformative experience. On a personal level, it has shown me that I’m capable of achieving far more than I ever imagined. It has greatly boosted my confidence as a graduate student.

"Professionally, it has opened doors to new opportunities, networks, and the possibility of contributing to innovation and awareness in process safety,” she said.

Princess hopes her work serves as an inspiration to others.

“I want fellow students and professionals to understand that success isn’t just about talent - it’s about being willing to learn, adapt, and stay consistent. I hope my work sparks curiosity and ambition, and motivates others to fully explore their potential.

"At the same time, I hope it contributes to greater awareness about the importance of process safety and its relevance to everyday life.”

The IChemE president, Mark Apsey, praised this year’s medal recipients: “IChemE’s accolades shine a spotlight on the exceptional achievements of chemical engineers from increasingly diverse disciplines and career stages.

"By emphasising excellence and contributions towards sustainability, these medals and prizes exemplify our commitment to IChemE’s vision of Engineering a Sustainable World.

"My hearty congratulations to all the recipients; you set a commendable standard for all chemical engineers to follow and aspire to.”

Princess completed the project independently, sourcing most of her information from local newspaper reports to ensure that her analysis remained grounded in reliable, context-specific perspectives.

Her achievement stands as a powerful example of how local experience, academic rigour, and creative thinking can combine to make a global impact.