Chemical accidents
Encyclopedia
The terms “chemical accident” or “chemical incident” refer to an event resulting in the release of a substance or substances hazardous to human health and/or the environment in the short or long term. Such events include fires
, explosion
s, leak
ages or releases of toxic
or hazardous materials that can cause people illness, injury, disability or death.
While chemical accidents may occur whenever toxic materials are stored, transport
ed or used, the most severe accidents are industrial accidents, involving major chemical manufacturing and storage facilities. The most significant chemical accidents in recorded history was the 1984 Bhopal disaster
in India
, in which more than 3,000 people were killed after a highly toxic vapour, (methyl isocyanate
), was released at a Union Carbide
pesticide
s factory.
Efforts to prevent accidents range from improved safety
systems to fundamental changes in chemical use and manufacture, referred to as primary prevention or inherent safety.
In the United States
, concern about chemical accidents after the Bhopal disaster led to the passage of the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
. The EPCRA requires local emergency
planning efforts throughout the country, including emergency notifications. The law also requires companies to make publicly available information about their storage of toxic chemicals. Based on such information, citizens can identify the vulnerable zones in which severe toxic releases could cause harm or death.
In 1990, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board was established by Congress
, though the CSB did not become operational until 1998. The Board's mission is to determine the root causes of chemical accidents and issue safety recommendations to prevent future Safety Performance Indicators. It also organizes workshops on a number of issues related to preparing for, preventing, and responding to chemical accidents.
In the European Union
, incidents such as the Flixborough disaster
and the Seveso disaster
led to legislation such as the Seveso Directive
and Seveso planning and provide for safety reports to local authorities. Many countries have organisations that can assist with substance risk assessment and emergency planning that is required by a wide variety of legislation
, such as the National Chemical Emergency Centre
in the UK, Brandweerinformatiecentrum voor gevaarlijke stoffen
/Fire service information centre for dangerous goods in Belgium
.
In the UK, the UK Chemical Reaction Hazards Forum
publishes reports of accidents on its web site. These accidents were, at the time, minor in nature, but they could have escalated into major accidents. It is hoped that publishing these incidents will prevent "Re-inventing the Wheel". At present, (Dec 2008), there are over 140 articles on the web site.
Conflagration
A conflagration or a blaze is an uncontrolled burning that threatens human life, health, or property. A conflagration can be accidentally begun, naturally caused , or intentionally created . Arson can be accomplished for the purpose of sabotage or diversion, and also can be the consequence of...
, explosion
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
s, leak
Leak
A leak is a hole or other opening, usually unintended and therefore undesired, in a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container...
ages or releases of toxic
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
or hazardous materials that can cause people illness, injury, disability or death.
While chemical accidents may occur whenever toxic materials are stored, transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
ed or used, the most severe accidents are industrial accidents, involving major chemical manufacturing and storage facilities. The most significant chemical accidents in recorded history was the 1984 Bhopal disaster
Bhopal disaster
The Bhopal disaster also known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy was a gas leak incident in India, considered one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in which more than 3,000 people were killed after a highly toxic vapour, (methyl isocyanate
Methyl isocyanate
Methyl isocyanate is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH3NCO. Synonyms are isocyanatomethane, methyl carbylamine, and MIC. Methyl isocyanate is an intermediate chemical in the production of carbamate pesticides . It has also been used in the production of rubbers and adhesives...
), was released at a Union Carbide
Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s factory.
Efforts to prevent accidents range from improved safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
systems to fundamental changes in chemical use and manufacture, referred to as primary prevention or inherent safety.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, concern about chemical accidents after the Bhopal disaster led to the passage of the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 is a United States federal law passed by the 99th United States Congress located at Title 42, Chapter 116 of the U.S. Code, concerned with emergency response preparedness....
. The EPCRA requires local emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
planning efforts throughout the country, including emergency notifications. The law also requires companies to make publicly available information about their storage of toxic chemicals. Based on such information, citizens can identify the vulnerable zones in which severe toxic releases could cause harm or death.
In 1990, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board was established by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, though the CSB did not become operational until 1998. The Board's mission is to determine the root causes of chemical accidents and issue safety recommendations to prevent future Safety Performance Indicators. It also organizes workshops on a number of issues related to preparing for, preventing, and responding to chemical accidents.
In the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, incidents such as the Flixborough disaster
Flixborough disaster
The Flixborough disaster was an explosion at a chemical plant close to the village of Flixborough, England, on 1 June 1974. It killed 28 people and seriously injured 36.-Background:...
and the Seveso disaster
Seveso disaster
The Seveso disaster was an industrial accident that occurred around 12:37 pm July 10, 1976, in a small chemical manufacturing plant approximately north of Milan in the Lombardy region in Italy...
led to legislation such as the Seveso Directive
Directive 96/82/EC
Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances is a European Union law aimed at improving the safety of sites containing large quantities of dangerous substances. It is also known as the Seveso II Directive, after the Seveso...
and Seveso planning and provide for safety reports to local authorities. Many countries have organisations that can assist with substance risk assessment and emergency planning that is required by a wide variety of legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
, such as the National Chemical Emergency Centre
National Chemical Emergency Centre
The United Kingdom's National Chemical Emergency Centre is part of AEA Technology, and is based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, England....
in the UK, Brandweerinformatiecentrum voor gevaarlijke stoffen
Brandweerinformatiecentrum voor gevaarlijke stoffen
The Brandweerinformatiecentrum voor gevaarlijke stoffen/Information Centre for Dangerous Goods , established in the Flemish city of Geel, collects and validates information on dangerous goods.-History:...
/Fire service information centre for dangerous goods in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
In the UK, the UK Chemical Reaction Hazards Forum
UK Chemical Reaction Hazards Forum
The UK Chemical Reaction Hazards Forum is a group of process safety scientists, from different companies, who meet at regular intervals to share knowledge and experiences of recent chemical incidents, within their own companies, with the aim of preventing a repeat of the incident at a different...
publishes reports of accidents on its web site. These accidents were, at the time, minor in nature, but they could have escalated into major accidents. It is hoped that publishing these incidents will prevent "Re-inventing the Wheel". At present, (Dec 2008), there are over 140 articles on the web site.
External links
- National Chemical Emergency Centre
- Brandweerinformatiecentrum voor gevaarlijke stoffen/Fire services information centre for dangerous goods
- Case Studies in Process Plant Accidents
- U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board http://www.csb.gov
- U.S. EPA, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/
- Chemical and Other Safety Information - Oxford University
- Arc Flash Resource Center
- Safety in the use of Chemicals at work - International Labour Organization (ILO) - (PDF-file)
- MSDSonline.com A Searchable Database for Material Safety Data Sheets(MSDS)
- OECD Programme on Chemical Accidents: Environment Directorate
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Chemical Safety
- A searchable database for chemical safety accidents and lessons learned - FACTSOnline