...by human error and design error. The Bhopal disaster is one of the greatest scourge in history caused by a set of simultaneous failures. It happened in the night of 3rd of December at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India in 1984. The disaster led to a truly massive loss of human life. At least 15000 people were killed and hundreds thousands were injured. Besides, the long-term economic, social, and psychological damages to the community and to the company’s employee were staggering. In some ways, the investigation of this hazard indicated that the design of this chemical plant did not follow the Engineering Design Process. The people of Bhopal were killed by a gas called MIC (methyl isocyanate). MIC is highly toxic and its vapor can cause many diseases, such as blindness, lung damage, physical traumas. That very night, more than 25 tons of an MIC vapor/liquid mixture were released to the atmosphere. Not only human, but also the animals perished in the disaster, poisoned by the huge gas leak. A large number of people are still suffering from the disaster after thirty years. Many of those who were exposed to the gas have given birth to physically and mentally disabled children. After the disaster, the Indian justice system spent twenty five years on criminal trial and reached a conclusion. The Union Carbide plant agreed to pay $470 million to the victims of the disaster and their families. Some activists and victims of the Bhopal disaster were not satisfied with the results...
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...1. Based on my opinion , Union Carbide company was owing its first loyalty and moral responsibility of the financial interests to the local community and its employees rather than its owners. Firstly, Union Carbide are behavior as an egoism under these scenario , which means they are naturally selfish and focusing on their own self-interest as “number one “ without caring about the resident in Bhopal. As a responsible company should always place the safety at the main priority no matter how worst the company’s sales are. Since the pesticide’s sales are going down, the company is trying to cut down the security measures spending to maintain the cost. Egoism contends that an act is morally right if and only if Union Carbide best promotes an organization long-term interests. Besides, set up an industrial chemical factory at the area of surrounded by thousands of residents is not a good ideal. These companies take advantage of some developing countries to obtain greater economic benefits keen to attract foreign investment, emphasis on technology and equipment, ignoring safety and environmental protection. Some countries do not allow the establishment of industry almost transferred to developing countries(Karl E. Weick 2010). Secondly, Kant believed that morality in human life should be grounded in reason. As using his Categorical Imperative we should act only according to maxims that they would be willing to see become universal norms, and people should never be treated as a means...
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...Bhopal disaster From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Bhopal memorial for those killed and disabled by the 1984 toxic gas release The Bhopal disaster also known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy was one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.[1] Others estimate 3,000 died within weeks and another 8,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.[2][3] A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries.[4] UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian public held 49.1 percent ownership share. In 1994, the Supreme Court of India allowed UCC to sell its 50.9 percent share. Union Carbide sold UCIL, the Bhopal plant operator, to Eveready Industries India Limited in 1994. The Bhopal plant was later sold to McLeod Russel (India) Ltd. Dow Chemical Company purchased UCC in 2001. Civil and criminal cases are pending in the United...
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...BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY BUSINESS ETHICS ASSIGNMENT Submitted to: Submitted by: Prof. J.S.S. Manian Khem Singh Chauhan FMG 19B 191090 Summary: The Bhopal disaster (also referred to as the Bhopal gas tragedy) is the world's worst industrial catastrophe. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release. Other government agencies estimate 15,000 deaths. A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries. Even as the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas disaster is being observed in the city on Friday, its victims continue to be plagued with a number of problems that have not been resolved over the years. Questions and Answers: Ans 1. Compensation and relief that could have been provided to the gas victims are: * Another issue...
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...------------------------------------------------- Bhopal Disaster Understanding its impact on Organizational Behavior December 7, 2014 Bhaskardeb Maitra 2201 192nd ST SE #L4, Bothell, WA 98012 December 7, 2014 Bhaskardeb Maitra 2201 192nd ST SE #L4, Bothell, WA 98012 Introduction The industrial catastrophe that occurred on the midnight of December 2, 1984 at Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, India was the worst industrial accident in the world. The official count was around 3000 deaths, but unofficial estimates are around 8000 – 10000 deaths (Bogart, 1989). Since then, a report in NY Times indicates the death toll has reached a high of 14,410 due to the chronic diseases caused by the gas leakage (NYT, 08/02/2002) Chemical industry officials are particularly disturbed that in an accident such as Bhopal could occur in what is reported to be the safest manufacturing industry in the United States. The tragedy stimulated moves in the United States that will change the handling and production of toxic chemicals as well as the dissemination of information on potential hazards and safety precautions for toxic and hazardous substances to the public. Key questions to understand how this disaster impacts on organizational behavior During this analysis, I will try to make an attempt to understand the following key questions - probable impact on organization behavior: 1. This disaster itself and the way in which the aftermath of it are being handled...
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...Bhopal disaster Co o r din at es: 2 3 °1 6 ′ 5 1 ″ N 7 7 °2 4 ′ 3 8 ″ E From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Bhopal dis as te r (commonly referred to as Bhopal gas trage dy) was a gas leak incident in India, considered one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes.[1] It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people. The toxic substance made its way in and around the shantytowns located near the plant.[2] Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.[3] Others estimate 3,000 died within weeks and another 8,000 have since died from gas- related diseases.[4][5] A government affidavit in 2006 stated the leak caused 558,125 injuries including 38,478 temporary partial and approximately 3,900 severely and permanently disabling injuries.[6] UCIL was the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), with Indian Government controlled banks and the Indian public holding a 49.1 percent stake. In 1994, the Supreme Court of India allowed UCC to sell its 50.9 percent share. Union Carbide sold UCIL, the Bhopal plant operator, to Eveready Industries India Limited in 1994. The Bhopal plant was later sold to McLeod...
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...Corporate social responsibility Disaster at Rana Plaza A gruesome accident should make all bosses think harder about what behaving responsibly means THE collapse of an eight-storey garment factory in Rana Plaza on the outskirts of Dhaka on April 24th killed at least 400 people and injured many more. It was probably the worst industrial accident in South Asia since the Bhopal disaster in 1984, and the worst ever in the garment industry. Local police and an industry association had warned that the building was unsafe (see article). The owners reportedly responded by threatening to fire people who did not carry on working as usual. Much of the blame lies with Bangladeshi governments of all stripes, which have made only rudimentary attempts to enforce the national building code, especially against politically well-connected landlords. With luck, the laws will now be applied, but nobody expects much. The spotlight is therefore on the multinational companies whose orders from local factory owners have led to the rapid recent growth of the garment industry in Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest exporter of clothing after China. Familiar brands now stand accused of exploiting poorly paid workers with a callous indifference to their safety. Two companies whose products were found in the rubble at Rana Plaza—Primark, a cheap British label, and Canada’s Loblaw, whose brands include Joe Fresh—have rapidly promised compensation to victims and their families. But it goes...
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...On site and offsite emergency plans on chemical disaster Why Emergency Planning is required? After the incident of Bhopal gas disaster, the Factories Act has been amended and a new chapter i.e. Chapter IVA – provision relating to hazardous processes has been added to the Factories Act with addition of new provisions sec 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D, 41E, 41G & 41H covering all hazardous process industries. Under the provision of Sec 41B(4) every occupier shall with the approval of the Chief Inspector of Factories draw up an On-site Emergency Plan and detailed disaster control measures for his factory and make known to the workers employed therein and to the general public living in the vicinity of the factory the safety measures required to be taken in the event of an accident taking place. This is the statutory provision laid down in the act for preparation of On-site Emergency Plan to control disaster in the factories. Major accidents may cause emergency and it may lead to disaster, which may cause heavy damage to plant, property, harm to person and create adverse affects on production. Many disasters like Bhopal gas tragedy, Chernobyl nuclear disaster etc. have occurred at many places in the world causing heavy loss of life and property. Emergency situation arises all on a sudden and creates havoc and damage to person, property, production and environment. Therefore such situations and risks should be thought in advance and it should be planned before hand to tackle...
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...Saturday, November 24, 2012 Bhopal (Chemical leak) Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Updated: Jan. 13, 2011 In December 1984, a plume of toxic gas from an American-owned Union Carbide pesticide plant wafted over the city of Bhopal, India. The leak killed 2,000 people almost instantly, and thousands more died later from the aftereffects of the toxic gas, an ingredient in pesticides the plant produced. By the official reckoning, 578,000 people were affected. That was the number finally awarded compensation by specially created claims tribunals. There were no criminal convictions stemming from the leak until June 7, 2010, when eight former executives of the company's Indian subsidiary were convicted of negligence. The men were sentenced two years in prison and fined 100,000 rupees, or $2,100. Victims groups and activists, who had sought more serious charges, immediately criticized the verdict. The defendants, one of whom is dead, were all senior officials of the company at the time of the leak, India's deadliest industrial disaster. The contrast with the BP oil disaster was inescapable. Indians could not help but marvel — and envy — the alacrity with which the United States government had responded to the BP oil spill disaster in 2010. In the face of public outrage prompted by the light criminal sentences, the Indian government is trying shake off the shadow of Bhopal, an episode that has become synonymous with ineffectual governance and humiliation at the hands of Western...
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...| | |Bhopal Gas Tragedy | |A review | | | | | | | |Abstract: - Multiple perspectives are particularly appropriate for risk analysis. The Bhopal chemical accident of December 2-3, | |1984, is viewed here using this concept. The preceding paper has described the events surrounding the catastrophic leak | |of methyl isocyanate at the Union Carbide plant; it is considered a technical perspective on the accident. | Risk Analysis Physical hazards have always been a feature of life. In man’s early days there were natural hazards such as earthquakes, weather, and other living organisms (microbes, animals...
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...these choices. It illuminates the broad spectrum of alternatives available in the capital markets and the tradeoffs in following difficult alternatives. In particular it highlights the shifting emphasis between debt and equity as the company struggled with its financial demands. The case provides realistic understanding of the viewpoint of corporate financial management in crisis situations and the interplay with investment banks in finding the best solutions in the capital markets to deal with fundamental financial issues. The case “The Union Carbide Deal” highlights three phases of the company’s financial situation. The first phase includes the Bhopal plan disaster and GAF takeover attempt. The second phase is the debt burden, and the final phase is the bank financing and equity. In discussing the first phase, the Bhopal accident is really the catalyst for all the financial issues Union Carbide experienced from 1984 when it occurred until long past the end of the case and its eventual merger with Dow Chemical. As described in a New York Times article by Claudae Deutsch, “the bitter aftertastes continue to tarnish their corporate reputations….Those issues have had lingering impacts on their valuations on Wall Street,'' (Deutsch, p.2) The impact of this devastating loss of human life was understandably massive on Union Carbide, threatening their financial stability and public perception, so much so that the Wall Street...
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...Corporate Social Responsibility – Issues and Challenges with reference to Bhopal city. Ms Charu Modi Ms Ankita Rajdev Ms Meenal Pathak Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor JSSGIW – FOM JSSGIW – FOM JSSGIW – FOM 08871312197 09893299224 09989773177 Abstract Corporate Social Responsibility is the term used to define organisation’s commitment to the society and the environment within which it operates. Corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on the environment and impact on social welfare. The term generally applies to company efforts that go beyond what may be required by regulators or environmental protection groups. Stakeholders like employees, community, suppliers and shareholders, today are redefining the role of corporate taking into account the corporate’ broader responsibility towards society and environment, beyond economic performance, and are evaluating whether they are conducting their role in an ethical and socially responsible manner. As a result of this shift many forums, institutions and corporate are endorsing the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In Bhopal companies like BHEL and Crompton and Greaves etc are practicing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). But still there are many companies that are lacking behind in CSR practices. A lack of understanding, inadequately trained personnel, non availability of authentic data and specific...
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...Connie Aiello Student No. 500447896 Professor Terry Roswell SOC103 Environmental Racism and Transnational Corporations “All Americans have a basic right to live, work, play, go to school, and worship in a clean and healthy environment” (Bullard, Dixie xiii). Unfortunately, this is not true for all. Afro-American communities in the South and other visible minorities across the globe, live through the harsh realities of environmental racism every day. (Bullard, Racism 3) In Confronting Environmental Racism, Robert D. Bullard defines environmental racism as: Racial discrimination in environmental policymaking. It is racial discrimination in the enforcement of regulations and laws. It is racial discrimination in the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste disposal and the sitting of polluting industries. It is racial discrimination in the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in communities of color. And, it is racial discrimination in the history of excluding people of color from the mainstream environmental groups, decision-making boards, commissions, and regulatory bodies. (3) Environmental justice on the other hand, is a form of environmental equity. It refers to “the equal protection of environmental laws amongst all people, irrespective of their race or social status. (Peluso 389) With very little influence in decision-making from minority groups, policymakers deliberately target...
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...depression, and the rise of organized labor. Consequently changes in the safety health field are often motivated by great tragedies that focus public attention on risks in the workplace. The Goals of this unit: * Identify the historic trends in industrial safety * Identify events that have impacted industrial safety To complete this unit you must 1. Read the chapter in the book 2. Review the PowerPoint slides 3. Look into the Bhopal accident using the video and searching the Internet to answer the following under the "Assignment tab" for : Session 2: History of Safety. 1. How many died as a result of the accident? 2. What has been the long term effects of the accident on residents 3. Look at the total number of injuries and deaths over for any 2 years on the BLS web site for (Take a look at data from Osha) Use the BLS link to find the data tutorials for: * Manufacturing * Construction * Mining * Agriculture en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster Bhopal disaster From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do...
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...On the night December 3rd, one of the worst industrial accidents in history occurred in Bhopal, India. A gas leak spread throughout the streets of Bhopal and devastated all of the inhabitants in the area; at least 3800 of the residents were immediately killed. The gas that leaked was known as methyl isocyanate (MIC). An estimate of forty tons of the gas was leaked. The death toll quickly rose to the tens of thousands in the following days. The total count of people affected is close to half million people. Many questions arose from this incident, such as how and why it happened and how it could avoided. The Indian government had hopes in industrializing the nation. The Indian government implemented policies that would attract foreign companies to invest in local industry. One of the companies that invested was a large chemical producing company called the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC). The company built a plant that produced a commonly used pesticide, Sevin, in Bhopal. The...
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