Union Carbide Bhopal Plant

U.S. Chemical Safety Board, www.chemsafety.gov

Past Union Carbide Plant Gas Leaks December 25, 1981

◦ Phosgene leak January 9, 1982

◦ 25 workers hospitalized

April 22, 1982◦ 3 workers severely

burned October 5, 1982

◦ Hundreds of residents hospitalized

http://www.sangatproject.org/docs/Cherokee.htm

Warning Signs There were many

signs in the regulations and procedures that were or were not in place that might be why the disaster took place.

Pressure gauges were disregarded by workers

Flare tower and gas scrubber were turned off.

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Bhopal Disaster could have been prevented

Many containment and safety measures were not taken to prevent this.

Safety was not top priority in Bhopal.

No community information or emergency procedures were in place to warn and help the citizens of Bhopal.

Today, under OSHA rules the PSM (Process Safety Management) standard is regulatory action.http://anarchytect.blogspot.com/

2008_05_01_archive.html

Violations

Very few guidelines in place for the chemical industry at the time of the incident.

No fines could be handed down

Union Carbide must be held accountable

Violations following Bhopal

Fined $1.3 million

Cited for 221 alleged safety and health violations

Recommendations

Insure that all companies abide by OSHA requirements

Allow inspections to be made at anytime to enforce requirements

Continue to make innovative requirements to further the safety of the workplace

www.chemsafety.gov http://www.sangatproject.org/docs/

Cherokee.htm http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/861062-

002/Riser http://anarchytect.blogspot.com/

2008_05_01_archive.html

Resources