Union Carbide Gas leak in Bhopal India.

Rushain Smith

UNION CARBIDE Bhopal Plant Disaster BHOPAL Contributing Factors Effect on Human Health Vulnerable Group Risk Assessment Risk Management Risk Communication Agency in Jamaica Conclusion

The Bhopal Plant Disaster

Massive toxic gas leak from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) chemical plant at Bhopal in December, 1984. Thousands killed and hundreds of thousands injured by 40 ton release of methyl isocyanate (MIC). MIC is an extremely reactive chemical and is used in production of the insecticide carbaryl. Caused by unsafe conditions and series of failures in poorly maintained and understaffed plant.

Case Study:

AMONG THE 500,000 PEOPLE EXPOSED TO THE GAS, 20,000 HAVE DIED TILL DATE AND 120,000 CONTINUE TO SUFFER DEVASTATING HEALTH EFFECTS AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPOSURE.

The Disaster: Contributing Factors

Human Error
Critical isolation valve not closed before pipes were flushed with water, causing the fatal pressurization of tank containing MIC. Reach of sprayer for water neutralization of escaping gas was inadequate. Plant managers were aware of deficiency.

Inadequate Safety Equipment

Failure of Safety Equipment

Stack scrubber, activated by operator during leak, failed.

Poor Maintenance Inadequate Response Lack of Evacuation Plans

Effect and Vulnerable Groups

Respiratory Disorders Irritation to the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breathing and Asthma. Cancer Hazard Caused mutation (genetic changes). It caused cancer.
Effects on Human Health

Vulnerable Groups The entire Local populations are vulnerable to exposure to all the chemicals found in this
.

Reproductive Hazard Association between exposure to Methyl Isocyanate and miscarriages, also affect fertility in men and women.

Children Workers Adults

Risk Assessment
Toxic Materials in Soil and Water Lead, Nickel, Copper, Chromium, and chlorobenzenes were found in soil samples. Mercury was found to be between 20,000 to 6,000,000 times the standard level in soil. The scrubber and flare stack were in-operational so the MIC vapour was discharged directly to atmosphere.

Risk Assessment

Risk Management
No plan existed for coping with a disaster of this magnitude. With the safety of Indian citizens at mind, regular maintenance should continue to prevent any disasters -The managements reasoning seemed to be that since the plant had ceased all production, no threat remained

Risk Management

Risk Communication
Workers were forced to use English manuals, even though only a few understands the language Several internal studies which exhibited severe contamination were not made public Lack of knowledge of treatment in the local hospitals. Neighbors unaware of risk and danger

Risk Communication

Agencies which would address such a situation in Jamaica

National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) Office of Disaster Preparedness Emergency Management (ODPEM). - Would be responsible for taking pro-active and timely measures to prevent or reduce the impact of on the Jamaican people and economy.

CONCLUSIONS
There were a number of clear contributory factors that caused this disaster. 1 Factory Siting A plant producing a variety of very dangerous compounds was sited: a) too close to a residential area b) on the wrong side with respect to the prevailing wind.

2 Abandonment of Safeguards

Economic problems and the resultant pressure to save money lead to the shutting down of vital safety systems. If the factory was uneconomic it would have proved a more sensible option to shut it down.

3 Medical Unpreparedness Not enough information on the toxicity of the factorys products and lack of knowledge of treatment in the local hospitals. The factory should have been much more pro-active in liasing with the municipal authorities in preparing an emergency evacuation plan.