Lessons from the past still apply today
Can we apply lessons from large health & safety accidents to SME’s?
Forty years ago, on 3rd December 1984, about 45 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked from a storage tank at a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide India Limited in the town of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
This released a toxic gas cloud into the atmosphere, exposing residents within the surrounding area – much of it in a nearby shanty town - where there was no accurate census of population numbers. The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000. Some half a million survivors suffered – and continue to suffer - respiratory problems, eye irritation or blindness, and numerous other maladies resulting from exposure to the toxic gas.
Lawyers argued whether the cause was accidental or deliberate (allegedly by a disgruntled employee under threat of redundancy), and whether the legal case should be heard in India or the USA, where (now defunct) Union Carbide was registered.
Textbook case
Many of you may be too young to have seen the tragedy unfold across TV screens, but Bhopal was such a textbook example of mismanagement and finger-pointing that I sometimes used it as a case study in my management training courses – even for staff in low-risk occupations, such as office workers.
Begin with the best intentions
Parent company Union Carbide were fully aware of the dangers from methyl isocyanate, initially didn’t take any risks, and built multiple layers of protection into the plant’s design – even to the extent of erecting not only a scrubber, but also a flare stack at the end of the process as a last resort in case any gas worked through the system.
The problem was that the plant manufactured fertiliser and there had been a drought in India for several years causing fertiliser sales to plummet. Senior staff responded – you guessed it – by cutting costs, and piece by piece, the various safeguards were removed.
Reduced maintenance budgets led to corrosion/malfunctions. Coolant was drained for use elsewhere.
Experienced, well-trained staff were replaced by fewer, cheaper novices. And the scrubber? Out of commission. Flare stack? Turned off at the time of the accident for maintenance.
Nothing ever changes
I have lived and worked through several recessions. Time again, I have seen companies respond to a downturn by slashing costs – particularly in training and health & safety budgets.
Lessons for managers
Your business probably doesn’t process lethal chemicals – but there are still associated risks, albeit on a lesser scale, even in SME’s (Small to Medium Enterprises). A well run organisation can do many things to stay out of trouble such as:
- Prioritise safety by personal example and regular staff communication.
- Maintain accountability to people affected by your business.
- Conduct thorough risk assessments and have robust emergency response plans.
- Maintain high standards of maintenance.
- Keep checking compliance with local and international safety standards and regulations – with independent oversight.
- Operate ethically and transparently to build trust and goodwill.
- Engage with local communities and ensure clear, open lines of communication.
- Minimise environmental risks and take responsibility for your ecological footprint.
- Establish dedicated crisis management teams, run drills, and update response plans as necessary.
- Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and share lessons learned industry-wide.
The Bhopal disaster underscores the need for responsible commerce where economic growth does not come at the cost of human lives and environmental degradation.
Businesses that prioritise sustainability, ethics, and accountability can thrive while avoiding the risks of tragedies.
Arinite clients appreciate we provide practical, no-nonsense advice about what you need to do to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
Our team of health and safety consultants take pride in keeping health and safety simple.
If you need to call upon our expert assistance, or just for an informal chat, please call our office +44 (0) 207 947 9581, or type an enquiry to: https://www.arinite.co.uk/contact-us/.
Written by