COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE,

PADANNAKKAD
NAME: YASH S. GULHANE
ADMISSION NO. 2021-11-145
COURSE TITLE: DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
CHEMICAL TRAGEDY/
DISASTER

What is chemical disaster?

Reasons for chemical disaster
Impacts of chemical disaster
Preventions of chemical disaster
Cases of chemical tragedy
 WHAT IS CHEMICAL DISASTER?

• A chemical accident is the unintentional release of one or more chemical

hazard substance which could harm human health and the environment such
events include fires, explosions, leakages or release of toxic materials that can
cause people illness, injury or disability.
• The accidental release of large amount of toxins into the environment. The
effects suffered by people in the area are determined by the toxicity of the
chemical, its speed is spreading, its compositions (liquid, solid or gaseous).
 REASONS OF CHEMICAL DISASTERS

• Ageing of processing plant.

• Human error
• Technical error
• Management errors
• Accidents during the transportation
• Hazardous waste processing/ disposal
• Terrorist attack
Ageing of process plants, defects in design and inadequate steps to pace with modern technologies in
the Indian chemical industry has increased vulnerability to chemical disasters

A majority of the industrial accidents occur due to human error as a result of non-compliance of
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Worker accidentally activates a pump under maintenance without
a safety valve in place that leads to a gas leak and subsequent explosion.

Another common cause that results in chemical disasters is improper maintenance of equipment.

Regular maintenance at scheduled intervals following the manufacturer’s recommendations is

important for ensuring that the equipment runs smoothly and safely. The Flixborough incident is a prime
example of improper maintenance which led to the death of 28 people and injured many.

Non-availability of an emergency response team to mitigate accidents during the transportation of

hazardous chemicals have also resulted in major disasters in several locations in India.

Hazardous waste processing and its proper disposal need special attention as these activities can also
contribute to fire, explosions and toxic releases to the environment.
IMPACTS OF CHEMICAL
DISASTER

Effects on human beings

Effects on environment
Physical damage
1.On human:
May cause immediate health effects, such as skin or eye irritation or burns, or poisoning.
There can also be longer-term health effects from chemicals. When these occur, they are usually
the result of exposure to certain chemicals over a long period of time.
Depending on the chemical, these longer-term health effects might include:
• organ damage
• weakening of the immune system
• development of allergies or asthma
• reproductive problems and birth defects
• effects on the mental, intellectual or physical development of children
• cancer

2.Environmental Damage:
Chemical disasters affect the environment because of likely contamination of air, water supply,
land, crops, vegetation and animal life. In some cases certain areas may become uninhabitable for
humans and animals. Due to this entire ecosystem affected.
The possibility of mega scale migration/evacuation/resettlement of population is seen.

3.Physical damage:
This includes damage or destruction of structure and infrastructure.
A transportation accident may damage the means of transport used for transporting hazardous
material viz. vehicle, rail etc.
 PREVENTION TO TAKE TO AVOID
CHEMICAL DISASTER

• Precautions to be taken during and after the Chemical (Industrial) Accidents

• General Precautions During Normal Time
1. Precautions to be taken during and after the Chemical (Industrial) Accidents

• Do not panic, evacuate calmly and quickly perpendicular to wind direction through the designated escape route
• Keep a wet handkerchief or piece of cloth on face during evacuation.
• Keep the sick, elderly, weak, handicapped and other people who are unable to evacuate inside house and close all the doors
and windows tightly.
• Do not consume the uncovered food/ water etc.
• Change into fresh clothing after reaching safe place/ shelter, and wish hands properly
• Inform Fire & Emergency Services, Police and medical services from safe location by calling 101, 100 and 108
respectively.
• Listen to PA (Public Addressal) System of the plant/ factory, local radio/ TV channels for advice from district
administration/fire/health/police and other concerned authorities
• Provide correct and accurate information to government official.
• Inform others on occurrence of event at public gathering places (like school, shopping center, theatre etc.).

2. General Precautions During Normal Time:

• Do not smoke, lit fire or spark in the identified hazardous area

• Sensitize the community living near the industrial units and they should be more vigilant about the nature of industrial units
and associated risks.
• Keep the contact numbers of nearest hazardous industry, fire station, police station, control room, health services and
district control room, for emergency use.
• Avoid housing near the industries producing or processing the hazardous chemicals, if possible.
• Participate in all the capacity building programmed organized by the government/ voluntary organizations / industrial units.
• Take part in preparing disaster management plan for the community and identify safe shelter along
with safe and easy access routes.
• Prepare an emergency kit of items and essentials in the house, including medicines, documents and
valuables.

Following are the relevant provisions on chemical disaster management, prevailing in country:-

1. Explosives Act 1884

2. Factories Act 1948
3. Environment Protection Act 1986
4. Public Liability Insurance Act 1991
5 - Petroleum Act 1934
6 - Insecticides Act 1968 7-
Disaster Management Act 2005
 CASES CHEMICAL TRAGEDY

• Well know case of chemical disaster in India is “ Bhopal gas tragedy”

early on Dec.3, 1984, a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide in Bhopal spewed about 36 tonnes of deadly methyl
isocyanate gas into city’s air, quickly killing about 4000 people, according to government estimate.
Some other cases of chemical disaster:
1. Chornobyl power plant explosion- April 26, 1986 in Ukraine. In which 31 people died and as along term effect
thyroid cancer is seen in children.
2. Halifax explosion- Dec. 6, 1917 in Canada. Cargo ship containing wartime explosive collapse resulting in
explosion. Causing death of 2000 prople.
3. Centralia mining disaster- March 25, 1947 in US. Coal mine near centralia exploded due to ignition of coal dust.
111 people were killed.
Some recent cases of chemical disaster:

1. On march 15, 2017 in Kanpur, India. Ammonia leaked from the gas chamber of a cold storage facility.
Farmers were there inside the building waiting for the stock of the potato harvest. Five people were
killed and nine got injured.
2. On may 7, 2020 in Visakhapatnam, India. Malfunctioning in cooling system of styrene storage tanks.
Resulting in death of 11 people and over 1000 people become sick.

Chemical disaster in Kerela.

On July 6, 2004 in Eloor, India. Massive fire in Hindustan Insecticide Limited Factory. Endosulfan plant
burnt down. Toxic substance were spread all over the area. Hundred’s of people were affected by the
incidence.
THANK YOU