On December 2, 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India resulted in around 45 tons of toxic chemicals leaking into surrounding neighborhoods. Considered one of history’s deadliest industrial accidents, the event resulted in approximately 15,000-20,000 deaths while 600,000 survivors suffered from respiratory diseases, blindness, miscarriages, and other serious health concerns.
In a case study, Omary Perez notes several reasons why a tragedy of this scale happened. The accident was caused by poorly maintained pipes and equipment to cut costs along with a lack of emergency plans and trained personnel making it harder to properly respond to the gas leak. Although the UCC paid $470 million in a settlement, the majority of help for the victims was provided by the Indian government and humanitarian organizations. The UCC plant gas leak is a clear example of the importance of proper training, reliable warning systems, and plant maintenance.
by Leanne Auyeung