Hazards, Disasters And Your Community - United Nations ...
Hazards, Disasters And Your Community - United Nations ...
Hazards, Disasters And Your Community - United Nations ...
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CHAPTER 9<br />
CHEMICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS<br />
Bhopal Chemical Gas leak Disaster (2-3 December 1984) one of the<br />
worst industrial disasters of all time occurred in Bhopal. The tragedy<br />
was a technological accident in which 45Tonnes of highly poisonous<br />
methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas along with Hydrogen Cyanide and other<br />
reaction products leaked out of the pesticide factory of Union Carbide<br />
into the night air of Bhopal at around 12.30 a.m. The official death toll<br />
reached 3,598 in 1989. Thousands, who survived, however, face a<br />
fate worse than death.<br />
ONSET TYPE and WARNING<br />
Onset in case of industrial disaster can be either rapid<br />
(minutes or hours) or sudden (no warning) depending on<br />
the nature of occurrence. As there is a series of processes<br />
and reactions involved the onset may vary accordingly.<br />
Release of chemicals may be because of human error,<br />
technological failure or natural activities which include<br />
geological activity like earthquakes, natural fires, floods<br />
etc. The industrial facility should have monitoring and<br />
warning systems for fire and building up of dangerous<br />
conditions. Explosion in some of the cases can be<br />
anticipated.<br />
In the event of fires, chemical<br />
leaks or explosions occurring in<br />
industrial facilities, people are<br />
exposed to the following dangers:<br />
• The fire spreading in the industry and the<br />
residential areas nearby<br />
• Heat conditions<br />
• Chemical gas leak (poisonous)<br />
• Combustion of various products and<br />
heat waves<br />
• Low oxygen levels<br />
• Falling of structural elements and<br />
machinery<br />
• Contamination of the nearby<br />
environment (land, water and air)<br />
In the picture: (Left) The killer MIC plant,<br />
(Right Top) Ruins of the Union Carbide<br />
Pesticide Factory – Toxic Gas Release,<br />
(Right bottom) Slogans on factory wall.<br />
Industrial Systems<br />
Facilities<br />
Equipments<br />
Products<br />
Wastes<br />
Environment<br />
Atmosphere<br />
Lithosphere<br />
Hydrosphere<br />
Biosphere<br />
People<br />
Operators<br />
Population at risk<br />
Plant manager<br />
ELEMENTS AT RISK<br />
The industrial set up and its near environment is under<br />
immediate threat. Employees of the work place, residents<br />
of nearby settlements, livestock, and crops in the nearby<br />
vicinity are at risk. The environment which includes land,<br />
water and air will get polluted. Hazardous substance<br />
released into the air or water can travel long distances and Components of Industrial Hazard<br />
“ t o w a r d s s a f e r I N D I A ” 44
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