The Bhopal Gas Tragedy
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Case Details:
Case Code : BECG009
Case Length : 09 Pages
Period : 1980-2001
Pub. Date : 2002
Teaching Note : Available
Organization : Union Carbide India Limited
Industry : Chemicals
Countries : India
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This case study was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion. It is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Nor is it a primary information source.
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Introduction Contd...
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The catastrophe raised some serious ethical issues. The
pesticide factory was built in the midst of densely populated settlements. UCIL
chose to store and produce MIC, one of the most deadly chemicals (permitted
exposure levels in USA and Britain are 0.02 parts per million), in an area where
nearly 120,000 people lived.
The MIC plant was not designed to handle a runaway reaction. When the
uncontrolled reaction started, MIC was flowing through the scrubber (meant to
neutralize MIC emissions) at more than 200 times its designed capacity. MIC in
the tank was filled to 87% of its capacity while the maximum permissible was
50%.
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MIC was not stored at zero degree centigrade as prescribed
and the refrigeration and cooling systems had been shut down five months before
the disaster, as part of UCC’s global economy drive.
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Vital gauges and indicators in the MIC tank were
defective. The flare tower meant to burn off MIC emissions was under
repair at the time of the disaster and the scrubber contained no caustic
soda.
As part of UCC’s drive to cut costs, the work force in the Bhopal
factory was brought down by half from 1980 to 1984.
This had serious consequences on safety and maintenance. The size of the
work crew for the MIC plant was cut in half from twelve to six
workers... |
Excerpts >>
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