By Prof Madya Dr Rubiyah Baini

Course outcomes
CO1 Assess risk of chemical hazards at the
workplace (C5, PLO2)
CO2 Select suitable, sufficient and cost-
effective chemical risk control measures
(C5, PLO1)
CO3 Appraise chemical management
procedure (C5, PLO4) hazardous
It’s a material with specific chemical composition and
properties. It exists as solid, liquid and gas.
For example:
Propane consist of 2 carbon atom and eight hydrogen
atom
Atrazine consists of nitrogen, chlorine and hydrogen
atoms used in pesticides
Chemical substances can be dangerous , for example:
▪ Toxic vapour possibly inhaled causes death/damages to human
body
▪ Toxic liquid possibly in contact with human skin cases irritation
▪ High pressure chemicals causes hot spot, possibly explosion
▪ Reactive chemicals causes high pressure possibly cause
fire/explosion/release of dangerous chemicals
▪ Flammable gases causes fire/explosion
Chemicals –hazardous properties
such as flammable and toxic
Equipment-malfunction/improper
operation
Human Errors-negligence, no/lack of
knowledge
Bhopal accident
▪ Happened in 1984 in India

▪ The chemical plant produced pesticides with an intermediate compound, methyl isocynate (MIC), which
is vey reactive, toxic and flammable. MIC has boiling point of 39.1oC, and its vapour is about twice as
heavy as air meaning it stays close to the ground once released.
▪ MIC in a large storage tank became contaminated with water caused reaction that increased the
temperature past its boiling point. The MIC travelled through the malfunctioned pressure relief system, a
scrubber and flare system ; estimated of 20 tons of MIC was released, spreading to nearby town killing
more than 2000 people with injury of more than 20,000 people.
Flixborough disaster
▪ Happened in 1974 in England

▪ The chemical plant produced caprolactam, a material for nylon production that used flammable
cyclohexane, volatiles when depressurized to atmosphere conditions.
▪ Months before the accident, reactor 4 of the 6 reactors in series, leaked, and needed to be removed.
Tank 4 was removed for maintenance, and reactor 3 was connected to reactor 5 using a bypass pipe.
Unfortunately, the connecting pipe rupture due to insufficient support, releasing cyclohexane vapour
cloud that was ignited by an unknown ignition source resulting in explosion.
▪ 28 people died, 36 injured.
Minamata disaster
▪ It also referred as Minamata disease was first discovered in 1956 in Japan
▪ Industrial wastewater contained dangerous mercury was released in the river;
Unfortunately, the chemical was bioaccumulated in the fish that were eaten by the
people lived nearby the river caused Minamata disease, a neurological disease
due to the poisoning mercury.
Bhopal accident , 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHJs3TwgsUQ
Flixborough disaster, 1974
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOXsFqSzAVs
Seveso disaster-1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwr0KHUlBbM
Minamata disaster-1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihFkyPv1jtU
Fukushima-1945
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYiuTNTTPMc
Chernobyl -1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8F1aMkxpIk
Gas leakage, India, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsuLHzZIcJ4

Chemical accidents, China

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhDAkh0yV8E

Chemical accident, USA

Animation of April 26, 2018, Explosion and Fire at the Husky Energy Refinery in
Superior, Wisconsin - YouTube