Chemical Accidents. Dr. Omid Kalatpour CEOH

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Chemical Accidents. Dr. Omid Kalatpour CEOH"

Maryann Doyle
10 years ago
Views:

1 Chemical Accidents Dr. Omid Kalatpour CEOH

Bhopal Gas Tragedy, India The worst industrial tragedy ever known pesticide manufacturing company Over 500,000 people were exposed to the deadly methyl isocyanate Bhopal, India on the

2 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, India The worst industrial tragedy ever known pesticide manufacturing company Over 500,000 people were exposed to the deadly methyl isocyanate Bhopal, India on the night of December 2-3, 1984 killing 8000 people within two weeks and injuring 558,125 of which of which approximately 3900 were seriously and permanently disabled. 2

the night of December 2-3, 1984 killing 8000 people within two weeks and injuring 558,125

3 Chernobyl Disaster, Ukraine at Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, Ukraine On April 26, 1986 due to an unexpected power surge during a test. The disaster claimed the lives of 54 workers instantly and over the years almost 4000 people have died due to diseases from the projection to radiations. [email protected] 3

The disaster claimed the lives of 54 workers instantly and over the years

4 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Alaska most devastating human-caused environmental disasters March 24, 1989, Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker spilling 260,000 to 750,000 barrels of crude over the next few days deaths of as many as 250,000 seabirds, at least 2800 sea otters and hundreds of other sea creatures there was still an estimated gallons of Valdez crude oil in Alaska s soil [email protected] 4

days deaths of as many as 250,000 seabirds, at least 2800 sea otters and hundreds of other sea

5 Enschede Disaster, Netherlands Enshede fireworks disaster killing 23 people, injuring 940 and destroying over 1500 buildings on May 13, 2000 in the city of Enschede, Netherlands The ignition caused the explosion of 177 tons of fireworks. 5

buildings on May 13, 2000 in the city of Enschede, Netherlands

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Japan The largest nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster was a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdown and releases of radioactive

6 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Japan The largest nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl disaster was a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdown and releases of radioactive materials shortly after the Tokyo earthquake and tsunami. Nobody died, but there were 37 people with physical injuries, and two workers taken to hospital with radiation burns. [email protected] 6

materials shortly after the Tokyo earthquake and tsunami.

7 The Philips Disaster, Pasadena, Texas, October 23, 1989 This chemical complex experienced a chemical release from its polyethylene plant. A flammable vapor cloud formed, which started a massive vapor cloud explosion with the force of 2.4 tons of TNT. Ten to fifteen minutes later, that was followed by the explosion of the 20,000-US-gallon (76,000 liter) isobutane store tank, and other smaller explosions. The conflagrataion took ten hours to bring under control. Twenty three people were killed, and 314 injured. [email protected] 7

Ten to fifteen minutes later, that was followed by the explosion of the 20,000-US-gallon (76,000 liter) isobutane store tank, and

8 Seveso July 1976A plume of (TCDD) contaminated vapors is released from a pesticide plant in the town of Seveso, Italy. Some 37,000 people were exposed to the highest levels ever recorded of a dioxin. Over 600 people were evacuated and several thousand were treated for dioxin poisoning, evidenced mainly by severe cases of chloracne. Over 80,000 animals were slaughtered to prevent the toxins entering food chains. [email protected] 8

Over 600 people were evacuated and several thousand were treated for dioxin poisoning, evidenced mainly by

9 Jilin Chemical Plant Explosions were a series of explosions which occurred on November 13, 2005 in Petro chemical plant in Jilin City, China. deaths of six workers and injured dozens causing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. these explosions severely polluted a river with an estimated 100 tons of pollutants containing benzene and nitrobenzene whose exposure reduces white blood cell count and is linked to leukemia. [email protected] 9

deaths of six workers and injured dozens causing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

The Three Mile Island Nuclear Explosion was a partial nuclear meltdown which occurred in one of the two United States nuclear reactors on March 28, 1979 in Pennsylvania; it was the worst accident in

10 The Three Mile Island Nuclear Explosion was a partial nuclear meltdown which occurred in one of the two United States nuclear reactors on March 28, 1979 in Pennsylvania; it was the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history with the partial meltdown resulting in the release of small amounts of radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment. [email protected] 10

U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history with the partial meltdown resulting in the release of

Deep water horizon (BP) oil spill The deep water horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil Spill) in the Gulf of Mexico is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of

11 Deep water horizon (BP) oil spill The deep water horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil Spill) in the Gulf of Mexico is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The oil spill was a direct result of the explosion and sinking of the deepwater horizon oil rig which claimed 11 lives. Total oil wasted is estimated at 4.9 million barrels. [email protected] 11

The Al-Mishraq Fire Al-Mishraq is a state run sulfur plant near Mosul, Iraq which in June 2003 was the site of the largest human-made release of sulfur dioxide ever

12 The Al-Mishraq Fire Al-Mishraq is a state run sulfur plant near Mosul, Iraq which in June 2003 was the site of the largest human-made release of sulfur dioxide ever recorded. A fire thought to have been deliberately started burned for almost a month spewing 21,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide a day into the atmosphere. [email protected] 12

The Love Canal In the 1940 s 21,000 tons of toxic industrial waste, containing highly toxic dioxin, was buried by Hooker Chemical (now Occidental Petroleum Corporation) which led to an adverse affect

13 The Love Canal In the 1940 s 21,000 tons of toxic industrial waste, containing highly toxic dioxin, was buried by Hooker Chemical (now Occidental Petroleum Corporation) which led to an adverse affect on nearby residents of Love Canal. The Love Canal neighborhood became evident with miscarriages, cancers, and birth defects and has been described as a national symbol of a failure to exercise a sense of concern for future generations. [email protected] 13

Minamata Disease Considered one of the four major pollution diseases in the history of Japan, Minamata is caused by severe mercury poisoning that attacks the nervous system.

14 Minamata Disease Considered one of the four major pollution diseases in the history of Japan, Minamata is caused by severe mercury poisoning that attacks the nervous system. In 1956, Chisso Corporation s industrial wastewater containing methylmercury was released into Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea; 2,265 fatalities are recognized as a direct consequence to this polluting even. [email protected] 14

In 1956, Chisso Corporation s industrial wastewater containing methylmercury was released into

15 Baia Mare Cyanide Spill After the Chernobyl incident, this cyanide spill in Romania is called the worst environmental disaster in Europe. On January 30, 2000, 100,000 cubic meters of cyanidecontaminated water leaked out from a dam, spewing out 100 tonnes of cyanide. An incredible amount of fish and aquatic plants were killed and up to 100 people were hospitalized after eating contaminated fish. [email protected] 15

On January 30, 2000, 100,000 cubic meters of cyanidecontaminated water leaked out from a dam, spewing

16 Flixborough Disaster On 1 June 1974 the Nypro (UK) site at Flixborough was severely damaged by a large explosion that killed 28 people. Vertical crack in reactor No.5 was leaking cyclohexane. Maintenance error! [email protected] 16

that killed 28 people. Vertical crack in reactor No.

17 Ufa train disaster June 4, 1989 in the Soviet Union, about 50 kilometers from the city of Ufa. It was the deadliest railway accident in Russian and Soviet history, with 575 confirmed dead. The explosion occurred after a pipeline began leaking liquid natural gas [email protected] 17

It was the deadliest railway accident in Russian and Soviet history,

18 Feyzin Oil Refinery Disaster Feyzin Oil Refinery (near Lyons), France 4 th January 1966 A large storage tank at an oil refinery holding liquefied propane exploded and killed a number of fire fighters. The incident was an important lesson for the hydrocarbon industries 18 [email protected]

liquefied propane exploded and killed a number of fire fighters.

19 Nishapur train disaster The Nishapur train disaster was a large explosion in the in Iran, on 18 February Over 300 people were killed and the entire village destroyed, when runaway train wagons crashed into the community in the middle of the night and exploded. [email protected] 19

Over 300 people were killed and the entire village destroyed, when

Safety Culture Lessons from CSB and Other Major Incident Investigations

Safety Culture Lessons from CSB and Other Major Incident Investigations Bill Hoyle Senior Investigator; retired U.S. Chemical Safety Board Sao Paulo, Brazil August 2014 Presentation overview Expecting