Bhopal Chemical Accident

Occupational Safety and Health -A Case Study of Bhopal Chemical Accident

Occupational Safety and Health -A Case Study of Bhopal Chemical Accident

Introduction

Ever since man has achieved technological development, demerits have always been accompanied with every innovation. With the advancement of manufacturing sector and rapid industrialization, man acquired high levels of development. However, industrial development brought many problems with it too. In this study, we would analyze the risk involved in handling chemicals and other hazardous substances which are used in industrial sector, and how organizations achieve and ensure satisfactory levels of occupational safety and health within the industrial sector. In order to fully grasp the topic, we would consider the case study of the tragic Bhopal gas leak accident in India, which is regarded as the biggest industrial disaster in the world, to date. This incident led the industrial sectors across the globe to redefine their health and safety procedures to contain such tragic disasters to occur again. This paper would analyze the incident from a risk management perspective to understand the necessary safety measures which the industrial sector ought to undertake to ensure a secure and safe industrial environment.

Overview of the Bhopal Industrial Disaster

On December 3rd, 1984, a deadly cloud floated over Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. This cloud of gas was formed of 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) escaped from major plant owned by multinational pesticide manufacturing firm, Union Carbide. According to official figures, the “strange fog” caused the death of 6,495 victims. Observers say that at least ten of thousands of deaths occurred as a result of the disaster. The Bhopal accident is the largest industrial disaster that has occurred to date. It surpasses perhaps the Chernobyl accident the exact toll of which is still not known. (Bertazzi, 2009) It is the result of a process with important technological risks carried out in an area inhabited by a large vulnerable and population. The manufacturing process of methyl isocyanate (MIC), an intermediate in the manufacture of insecticides, provided for the storage of this product in storage that can hold 40 tons of MIC each. This intermediate is a volatile product, capable of reacting exothermically with water to produce carbon dioxide and can also polymerize. These properties have led to dispersion in the environment following a series of malfunctions. However, it is the toxicity of MIC that is the cause of the large number of casualties. MIC vapours react with the skin, mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory system, causing the suffocation of the most severely affected victims. In addition, infectious diseases and tuberculosis can also occur as a long term effect of the poisonous gas. (Dhara & Dhara, 2002)

MIC is a highly dangerous, as flammable, volatile, toxic and explosive when its concentration in the atmosphere is greater than 6 per 100. The MIC in Bhopal was made in the said plant, and then stored in three tanks of more than 68 000 litres each. MIC leaks had been found in January 1982 (15 workers killed), then in August 1982 ...