Literary and economic impact of the Bhopal gas tragedy

The 1984 Bhopal disaster is widely regarded as a watershed event in the field of process-safety and has been largely responsible for a paradigm shift in the outlook of both industry and the public towards risk management within the processing industries. The Bhopal disaster has led to increased regulations and awareness for process-safety related activities across the globe. This paper reports the effect of the infamous Bhopal incident on the research community and examines the performance of manufacturing industries following the disaster.

For this paper, databases of scientific publications were used to investigate research trends in the safety area following the 1984 Bhopal disaster. Our analysis focuses on prominent safety-related research fields that have emerged following the gas tragedy as well as economic indicators of the processing industries. The study reveals that the process industry has consistently progressed over the years, in spite of added regulations and a worsened public image following the Bhopal disaster, and promises to be a stable economy in the future.     

Bhopal gas tragedy: scientific challenges and lessons for future

Some of the challenges of BGT were answered by two multi-disciplinary projects of the ICMR on Pathology and Toxicology and Pathophysiology. Unlike other chemical disasters, the aerosol inhaled by the Bhopal victims contained a mixture of MIC and its trimers and dimers, as well as aqueous and thermal decomposition products, including HCN. A coordinated GC–MS study of the blood and autopsy tissues and chemicals in the Tank residue confirmed their role.

Autopsy studies revealed the pathological changes in the acute, sub-acute and chronic phases progressive changes of pulmonary edema and bronchiolitis, followed by chronic pulmonary fibrosis. Cerebral edema resulted in ‘acute histotoxic anoxia’. Intensive experimental studies with the help of newer tools of molecular biology might throw more light on the underlying mechanisms and newer therapeutic approaches.

The initial finding of cherry-red discoloration of lungs led to a suspicion of cyanide toxicity. Eventually, elevated blood and tissue cyanide levels confirmed the prompt therapeutic response to NaTS and accompanying increase of urinary NaSCN excretion. However, periodic clinical recurrences and relapses pointing towards ‘chronic cyanide toxicity’ remained enigmatic.

Specific changes the 2–3 DPG levels and Blood Gases were explained on the basis of N-carbamoylation of end-terminal valine residues of Hb. Soon, several other end-terminal -amino groups of tissue proteins were also found to be N-carbamoylated. Had the attempts at demonstrate S-carbamoylation of glutathione and other SH radicals of tissue enzymes like rhodanese succeeded, perhaps the underlying mechanism of chronic cyanide toxicity due to MIC might have been resolved.

Based on the practical lessons learnt in Bhopal, an attempt will be made to present the salient pathological and toxicological findings, followed by a brief outline of the principles of planned laboratory management for alleviation of human suffering from future chemical disasters.     

The Bhopal tragedy: its influence on process and community safety as practiced in the United States

The chemical accident at 12:45 AM on December 3, 1984 in Bhopal India had a profound effect on the practice of chemical process safety in the United States. Fearing the possibility of similar events occurring in the United States, the United States Congress convened several hearings and investigations into the causes of the disaster. The inquiries focused both on the state of process safety within the US chemical industry and on the readiness of communities located near chemical operations to respond to sudden and dangerous toxic discharges. Of equal significance were concerns over the safety of workers in chemical plants. This paper reviews the major legislative, academic, and industrial changes initiated in the area of process safety after the event, their influence on saving lives, and on improving living conditions surrounding chemical complexes in the United States.     

The Bhopal gas leak: Analyses of causes and consequences by three different models

The Bhopal Gas Leak, India 1984 is the largest chemical industrial accident ever. Haddon's and Berger's models for injury analysis have been tested, together with the project planning tool Logical Framework Approach (LFA).

The three models provide the same main message: That irrespectively of the direct cause to the leakage, it is only two parties that are responsible for the magnitude of the disaster: Union Carbide Corporation and the Governments of India and Madhya Pradesh. The models give somewhat different images of the process of the accident.

Models developed for analysis of injuries can be used for analysing a complicated mega accident like the Bhopal gas leak, although different models might stress different aspects.     

The impact of the BP Baker report

Introduction

This study examined the impact of the British Petroleum (BP) Baker Panel Report, reviewing the March 2005 BP-Texas City explosion, on the field of process safety.

Method

Three hundred eighty-four subscribers of a process safety listserv responded to a survey two years after the BP Baker Report was published.

Results

Results revealed respondents in the field of process safety are familiar with the BP Baker Report, feel it is important to the future safety of chemical processing, and believe that the findings are generalizable to other plants beyond BP-Texas City. Respondents indicated that few organizations have administered the publicly available BP Process Safety Culture Survey. Our results also showed that perceptions of contractors varied depending on whether respondents were part of processing organizations (internal perspective) or government or consulting agencies (external perspective).

Conclusions

This research provides some insight into the beliefs of chemical processing personnel regarding the transportability and generalizability of lessons learned from one organization to another.

Impact on Industry

This study has implications for both organizational scientists and engineers in that it reveals perceptions about the primary mechanism used to share lessons learned within one industry about one major catastrophe (i.e., investigation reports). This study provides preliminary information about the perceived impact of a report such as this one.     

钢铁企业安全管理发展定位及管理构想

在深入分析钢铁企业现行安全管理现状的基础上 ,结合安全管理发展历史及有关理论 ,提出了钢铁企业安全管理发展战略及整体构想 ,为钢铁企业安全管理工作的发展提供了新思路     

A review of the past,present and future of the European loss prevention and safety promotion in the process industries

In 2013, the European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) celebrates its 60th anniversary. EFCE has continually promoted scientific collaboration and supported the work of engineers and scientists in thirty European countries. As for its mission statement, EFCE helps European Society to meet its needs through highlighting the role of Chemical Engineering in delivering sustainable processes and products. Within this organizational framework the Loss Prevention Symposium series, organized throughout Europe on behalf of the Loss Prevention Working Party of the EFCE, represents a fruitful tradition covering a time span of forty years. The tri-annual symposium gathers experts and scientists to seek technical improvements and scientific support for a growingly safer industry and quality of life. Following the loss prevention history in this paper, a time perspective on loss prevention and its future is presented.     

Safety leadership and safety performance in petrochemical industries: The mediating role of safety climate

This study examines the relationship among three latent variables: safety leadership, safety climate, and safety performance. Employees from 23 plants in seven departments of a petrochemical company in central Taiwan completed a questionnaire survey. From this, a sample of 521 responses was randomly selected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis using the AMOS 5.0 was employed to test the hypothesized model relating the above-mentioned variables. The results indicate that the model was supported, and that safety climate mediated the relationship between safety leadership and performance. Practical implications of these results for process safety management in the petrochemical industries are discussed.     

企业安全文化与行为基础安全协同安全管理模式探讨

通过对企业安全文化和行为基础安全管理模式异同点的比较和对两者协同的必要性分析,提出了基于企业安全文化和行为基础安全管理的协同模式.从预先评估、要素整合、建立管理流程协同机制和反馈辅助系统4个方面对协同模式的建立进行了探讨,同时对这种综合的管理模式应用于企业安全管理的优势进行了分析.     

近10年取得的安全科技成果

从1949-2009年的60年间,我国的安全生产科技领域经历了长足的发展。“十五”期间完成国家科技攻关计划项目2项,国拨经费0．566亿元;“十一五”期间完成立项的安全生产领域国家重点科技计划项目增加到12项,包括国家科技支撑计划、“973”计划、新产品计划、火炬计划、软科学计划等,国拨经费2．8亿元。国家科技计划项目比“十五”增长了3倍,国拨经费比“十五”增长了5倍。自2003年起,国家安监总局组织编制《年度安全生产科技发展规划》。     

我国道路交通安全管理主要问题分析及对策研究

根据近几年来我国道路安全状况的实际，针对目前我国道路交通安全管理的现状，本文对我国道路基础设施建设、我国道路交通安全管理现状和近几年的事故数据进行了分析，找出我国道路交通安全管理中存在的问题，并提出了针对这些问题的解决方法。     

某公司食堂施工过程危险性分析及对策措施

我国大多建筑施工企业目前的安全管理只局限于对施工现场的检查和整改工作,而对施工现场的整体安全性缺乏分析和有效的监控,目前安全评价技术在建筑业的运用并不成熟.运用科学的安全评价方法,对建筑施工危险性进行系统分析和研究,可以补充、完善和指导施工现场的安全管理工作.     

浅谈英国职业安全健康细节管理

学习先进的市场经济国家职业安全卫生管理经验和方法,可以有效促进我国职业安全健康管理水平的提高。本文介绍了英国职业安全健康管理在法律法规、过程管理、现场管理、职业卫生等方面的细节表现,揭示出先进安全管理国家严谨细致的一面,为我国安全生产工作如何做好细节管理提供借鉴。     

全面安全管理方法在装置检修中的应用

针对大型石油化工装置检修施工条件复杂,交叉作业环节多,施工队伍素质参差不齐、稍有不慎就会酿成事故的特点,从消灭事故的成因出发,提出了检修的全面安全管理方法,从根本上消除人的不安全行为,设备的不安全状态,作业环境的变化导致施工条件不具备及安全管理的缺陷.     

浅议企业安全文化建设与安全标准化建设的关系

目前由于国内各企业正在开展企业安全标准化建设工作,很多企业对安全标准化建设与企业安全文化建设之间的关系感到困惑。本文首先介绍了企业安全文化的层次和各层次间的关系以及安全标准化建设的相关内容,然后分析了企业安全文化建设与安全标准化建设之间的关系,最后得出安全标准化建设是企业安全文化的重要组成这一结论。安全标准化建设是建设安全文化的重要措施之一,企业可以通过安全标准化的建设来完善其在安全文化建设中的不足。本文能为企业进行安全标准化建设和安全文化建设的实施提供参考依据。     

Alcohol-impaired driving and its consequences in the United States: the past 25 years

INTRODUCTION: Progress in dealing with the alcohol-impaired driving problem in the United States during the past 25 years is addressed. METHODS: Trends in various measures of the problem were tracked and a thorough review of the relevant literature conducted. RESULTS: In the 1980s and continuing into the early 1990s, major decreases occurred in alcohol-impaired driving and its consequences. The contribution of alcohol to fatal crashes dropped by 35-40% during this period. Two primary reasons for the decline appear to be the emergence of citizen activist groups that mobilized public support and attention to the problem, and the proliferation of effective laws. Since about 1995 the alcohol-impaired driving problem has stabilized at a reduced but still quite high level. CONCLUSIONS: Highway safety organizations and citizen activist groups have continued to highlight the problem, but its status as a social issue has diminished. We basically know what the primary target groups are, and we know measures that would work to reduce the problem if implemented more fully. We know that political leadership, state task forces, and media advocacy are important ingredients in addressing the problem. It is likely that a resurgence in citizen activism will be necessary to foster these elements and refocus the nation on the unfinished battle against alcohol-impaired driving. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Alcohol-impaired driving is still a major problem that needs continuing attention.     

Turning gap acceptance decision-making: the impact of driver distraction

PROBLEM: A number of studies have found that use of in-car phones by drivers can interfere with the cognitive processing necessary for making appropriate and timely vehicle control decisions. However, the specific linkage between communication-based distraction and unsafe decision-making has not been sufficiently explored. METHOD: In a closed-course driving experiment, 39 subjects were exposed to approximately 100 gaps each in a circulating traffic stream of eight vehicles on an instrumented test track that was wet about half the time. The subjects were at the controls of an instrumented car, which was oriented in a typical left-turn configuration (traffic-crossing situation in North America) and with parking brake on and the transmission in neutral. The subjects were instructed to press on the accelerator pedal when they felt that a gap was safe to accept. Their performances were monitored and incentives were provided for balancing safe decision-making with expeditious completion of the task. For half of the gap exposures (randomly assigned), each subject was required to listen and respond to a complex verbal message. RESULTS: When not distracted, the subjects' gap acceptance judgment was found to be significantly influenced by their age, the gap size, the speed of the trailing vehicle, the level of "indecision," and the condition of the track surface. However, when distracted, the subjects did not factor pavement surface condition into the decision process. On wet pavement, the subjects were judged to have initiated twice the level of potential collisions when distracted by the messages that they did when not distracted. DISCUSSION: Listening/responding to verbal messages may reduce the capacity of drivers to process adequately all the important information necessary for safe decision-making. The effects of the messages in our study seemed to cause the subjects to misjudge gap size and speed information when operating under the additional disadvantage of adverse pavement condition. SUMMARY: Attention to complex messages while making decisions about turning through gaps in an on-coming vehicle stream was associated with significantly increased unsafe decision making by subjects in our experiment when the additional complexity of wet surface condition was introduced. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: While the results reflected a somewhat artificial situation where the measure was signaled intention to act rather than the act itself, nevertheless, they do strongly suggest a scenario in which mental distraction could contribute to crash risk. With the rapid proliferation of telematics in the vehicle market, even with the laudable objectives represented by the Intelligent Transportation Systems initiative, there is a danger of the primary task of the driver being subordinated to a perceived need to enhance information flow to/from the external "world." Industry and governments need to work together to ensure that apparently desirable in-vehicle communication improvements do not compromise safety.     

煤炭企业铁路路外安全之探讨

煤炭企业铁路多处于乡村以及山区丘陵地带,路外事故多发。总结目前共性问题,统计事故规律,是减少事故的重要方法。本文通过定性分析,先建立了树、网状模型,然后通过定量分析,计算出各因素权重比例,最后,采用结点管理的方法,提出了减少路外事故的重要途径为:建立健全路外安全管理机构及激励机制、采用科学的路外安全管理办法、强化教育提高人们安全意识。     

2006年中国出口欧美消费品安全召回情况分析

为对我国出口产品的安全状况进行了解,为我国产品召回制度的建立提供数据支持,统计分析了2006年1月至11月间美国与欧盟对源产于中国的消费品实施召回或其他安全措施的情况,结果表明:我国出口至美国的消费品被召回的次数与件数超过了其他任何国家,分别占总数的52.5%与60.1%,出口至欧盟的消费品被采取限制性措施的次数占总数的49.5%;涉及产品主要包括儿童玩具及用品、电子电器、机械产品等.因此,我国应尽快建立并完善缺陷产品召回制度,建立国家产品伤害监测系统,完善产品安全标准体系.     

The impact of differences in reliability data on the results of probabilistic safety analyses

The lack of plant-specific reliability data for probabilistic safety assessments is occasionally used for discrediting and doubting the validity of such analyses. On the other hand, analyses are often performed without even discussing the applicability of generic reliability data. In an attempt of clarification the impact of several sets of reliability data stemming from different sources on the explosion frequency of two processes with exothermal reactions (one of them is analyzed with plant-specific data) are quoted. As a further case study the reactor cooling system of one of the processes is analyzed. Additionally, a procedure using frequency and probability ranges is employed for comparison. The results show agreement within their respective uncertainty bounds; the identification of key components for safety is not hampered by data differences. The superiority of plant-specific data, which should of course be acquired, cannot be doubted. Nevertheless, improving the safety of a plant is possible using probabilistic safety analyses even with data which do not stem from the plant under investigation.