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736 Introduction to Process Safety Management (PSM)
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Methyl Isocyanate Tank Release Bhopal, India, 1984

On the night of December 2-3, 1984, a sudden release of about 30 metric tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) occurred at the Union Carbide pesticide plant at Bhopal, India.

Reflections on Bhopal After Thirty Years

The accident was a result of poor safety management practices, poor early warning systems, and the lack of community preparedness. All of these represent the root causes (management system weaknesses) for the accident, and responsible process safety management would have prevented this tragedy.

The accident led to the death of over 2,800 people (other estimates put the immediate death toll as high as 8000) living in the vicinity and caused respiratory damage and eye damage to over 20,000 others. At least 200,000 people fled Bhopal during the week after the accident. Estimates of the damage vary widely between $350 million to as high as $3 billion.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-3. What would have prevented the Bhopal, India tragedy?