Report for Phyllis Young
mae243
ims.pptxEnvironmental Disaster Management
Name
Bhopal Disaster Figures
| Aspect | Figures | percentage |
| Bhopal City Population | 1,000,000 people | 100 |
| Population Exposed | 554,895 people | 55.5 |
| Total Death-Disaster Related | 30,000 people | 3 |
| Disabilities Recorded | 102,000 people | 10.2 |
| Compensation money | $ 470 Million | N/A |
According to Coppola (2011), those affected in the Bhopal disaster suffer from related problems, respiratory diseases as well as having psychological problems. The effects are passed to unborn babies making them future clients for retarded growth, intellectual retard and peri and neonatal deaths.
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Possible Causes
Weak and unreliable pipes corroded
Excess pressure
Workers negligence
Lack of repairs/ uncoordinated repairs
Lack of emergency reporting system
Change of maintenance team
Haque (2005) says that the existing pipes could be weak and reliable. That means they can be easily corroded by gases which are acidic in nature. The pipes could be exerting a lot of pressure to the pipes making them give in to pressure. The pipes will thus start leaking. The leak may be due to worker’s negligence where they leave pipes unattended leading to build up of gases that funnily break the pipes. Lack of repairs and uncoordinated repairs makes the pipe culpable to who corrosion and poor workmanship. The change of maintenance team may bring in unqualified team which cannot attend to the industrial system. Lack of emergency reporting system may see workers who identify faulty system not communicate it to the relevant authorities.
3
Avoidance Measures
Locate facility in remote areas
Install a working safety designer
24 hour safety engineering team
Adhere to industrial policies and regulations
Install shut down system when leak happens
According to Ecker (2005), a chemical industry should be located far from human settlement. The aim of locating it far from human settlement is to minimise harm when disaster strikes. The safety designer is meant to contain any gas leak that may emanate from leaking of pipes. The gas will be contained inside the facilities with minimal external harm. A standby 24 hour system should be in place to ensure they respond to any gas leak in the firm. that will ensure regular check of the system to avoid any gas leakAll set standards in the field should be adhered to ensure that all disaster are contained.
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Production for Profit
Contingency fund
Third party medical scheme
Issue compensation
Offer shares to the local community
Offer corporate social responsibility like scholarships
Industries need to set up a contingency fund that will enable it to finance clean up processes when it faces a hazard (Coppola, 2011). The firm should have a third party medical scheme to ensure when a disaster strikes persons can be treated under a medical scheme. The firm assurance policy will ensure that the firm is able to compensate those who die due t a disaster. The firm should offer shares to the local community to ensure all the firms activity have the interest of the community. There is need for the firm to support corporate social responsibilities like offering scholarships.
5
Awareness Responsibility
Issue industrial protective and preventive equipment
Report any faulty system
Establish an emergency reporting system
Ability to locate environmental damage
Move people to safe grounds
According to Haque (2005), the firm need to issue personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers to reduce exposure. There is need for employees to have ability to locate and report faulty industrial systems. An emergency safety and health unit need to be established with clear communication channels. The community and workers need to have ability to identify environmental damage caused by the industry. That will ensure the firm rehabilitates the environment. The firm need to finance people near the firm to safer grounds as a way of creating awareness f staying away from the industry
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References
Coppola, D. P. (2011). Introduction to International Disaster Management. Burlington: Elsevier Science
Ecker, I. (2005). The Bhopal saga: Causes and consequences of the world’s largest industrial disaster. Hyderabad: University Press
Haque, C. E. (2005). Mitigation of natural hazards and disasters: International perspectives. Dordrecht, the Netherland: Springer
