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Industrial accidents
By Marinko Aleksic
Categories: GROWTH-5
Course Content
1 Introduction to Industrial Accidents
Industrial accidents have been a significant concern throughout human history, causing catastrophic consequences for both human health and the environment. Here is a definition of industrial accidents, some historical examples of major incidents and an overview of their causes and impacts on human health and the environment.
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1.1 Definition of industrial accidents
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1.2 Historical examples of major industrial accidents
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1.3 The impact of industrial accidents on human health and the environment
2 Types of industrial accidents
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2.1 Chemical accidents
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2.2 Fire and explosion accidents
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2.3 Biological accidents
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2.4 Mechanical accidents
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2.5 Electrical accidents
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2.6 Radiological accidents
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2.7 Other types of accidents
3. Causes of industrial accidents
Industrial accidents are a serious concern in today's industrialized world. These incidents, ranging from minor accidents to catastrophic events, can have far-reaching consequences for human lives, the environment and economies. General and individual causes of industrial accidents are presented here. General causes range from human factors and equipment failures to environmental conditions and design flaws, and special causes are analyzed as causes of fires and explosions, causes of biological accidents, causes of mechanical, electrical and radiological accidents.
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3.1 Human factors
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3.2 Equipment and machine breakdowns
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3.3 Environmental factors
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3.4 Design and engineering defects
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3.5 Maintenance and inspection issues
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3.6 Other causes
4. Consequences of industrial accidents
Industrial accidents are not isolated events; they ripple through societies, ecosystems and economies, leaving a trail of consequences in their wake. The multiple consequences of industrial accidents are analyzed here, exploring their impact on human health, the environment, the economy, the legal and social fabric of the affected communities.
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4.1 Consequences for human health
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4.2 Consequences for the environment
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4.3 Economic consequences
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4.4 Legal and social consequences
5. Risk assessment and management
Societies, through their specialized agencies, have the responsibility to identify and define (assess) the risks and factors that lead to disasters and to decide on appropriate actions so that the risks can be controlled or managed [1][ Birkmann, 2006].
It is important to highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach that seeks to avoid or mitigate risk before a disaster begins, which will also encourage increased public awareness, greater commitment by all participants, greater knowledge sharing as well as partnerships to implement different risk reduction strategies at all levels. This proactive concept is now recognized and established as a risk management process.
Risk management, both in theory and in practice, is an applicable concept when it comes to natural disasters, technological accidents, man-made disasters, financial risks, etc., but what is common is that the concept of risk management is incorporated as an integral part of regular daily activities of each organization (public or business) or part of their "business continuity plan".
Regarding the establishment of a consistent and comprehensive framework of the risk management process, the adoption of ISO 31000 - an international standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which should serve as a guide for the design, implementation and supervision of risk management - is of particular importance. More and more various organizations face internal and external factors that make it uncertain whether and when they will achieve their goals.
Risk management is defined "as a set of coordinated activities to guide and control an organization with respect to risk." ISO 31000 establishes principles and generic guidelines to assist organizations in establishing, implementing, operating, maintaining and continuously improving their risk management framework. It is not specific to any industry or sector, so it can be used by any public, private or social organization, association, group or individual. The standard can be applied to a wide range of activities, including strategies and decisions, operations, processes, functions, products, services and assets.
This standard is not intended to promote uniformity of risk management across organizations. The design and implementation of risk management plans and frameworks will need to take into account the different needs of a particular organization, its particular objectives and specific practices.
In ideal risk management, a prioritization process is followed whereby the risks with the greatest loss (or impact) and the greatest likelihood of occurrence are addressed first. Risks with lower probability of occurrence and lower loss are treated in descending order. In practice, the process of assessing overall risk can be difficult, and the balancing of mitigation resources between high-loss, low-loss risks versus high-loss, low-loss risks can often be mismanaged.
In the field of risk management, there are generally two types of events, namely negative events, which can be classified as risks, while positive events can be classified as opportunities.
Approaches to managing risk (uncertainty with negative consequences) usually include avoiding the threat, reducing the negative effect or likelihood of the threat, transferring all or part of the threat to another party, and even retaining some or all of the potential or actual consequences as a separate threat.
Figure 1 schematically explains the detailed risk management process based on ISO 31000:2009. This process is based on the principle of constant communication and consultation between all interested parties, as well as monitoring and reviewing activities and results. For the comprehensive implementation of all actions, risk management implies the detailed establishment of the risk management context, which implies the establishment of the internal and external context, the development of appropriate criteria and the establishment of the overall context of the risk management process.
It should be emphasized that industrial processes include the use of various hazardous substances that are found in facilities where production, processing, and storage activities are carried out, and which may also occur as a by-product in the production of products, that is, they may occur during the event of a major accident. There are currently around 10,000 industrial plants in the EU that use or store hazardous substances in large quantities. It mainly concerns the chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries. Operators who own or operate such facilities have an obligation to prevent major accidents, in accordance with regulations.
The foundations of legally defined prevention, preparedness and response to the consequences of major accidents were laid in 1976 after the accident in the Italian city of Seveso. Then TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) was released into the atmosphere from the chemical factory in the form of a toxic cloud. After that event, the so-called The Seveso Directive (Directive 82/501/EEC), which was subsequently amended based on experiences from accidents (Bhopal, Toulouse, Enschede), which resulted in the adoption of the Seveso II Directive (96/82/EC). Since 2012, the Seveso III Directive (2012/18/EU) has been applied, which takes into account changes in the area of chemical classification and in the area of expanding citizens' rights to access to information and justice. The Seveso III directive prescribes the conditions and procedures for preventive actions, as well as actions during and after a major accident, in order to protect the lives and health of people, property and the environment.
The ISO 45001 standard (Occupational Health & Safety - OH&S) is a standard that defines the requirements for the occupational health and safety management system. The aim and intended outcomes of the OH&S management system are the prevention of work-related injuries and impairment of workers' health and the provision of safe and healthy workplaces; therefore, it is essential for the organization to eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures. By implementing this standard, the company gains the trust of interested parties by assuring them that the management is committed to fulfilling the requirements of the safety and health policy at work, that the emphasis is on prevention and not on corrective measures.
The standard is intended for organizations that are aware of the importance of the health safety of their employees and constantly strive to improve and maintain the level of physical, mental and social safety of workers of all occupations, as well as the prevention of their injuries. By implementing this standard, the company gains the trust of interested parties by assuring them that the management is committed to meeting the requirements of the occupational safety and health policy, that the emphasis is on prevention and not on corrective measures, that it is possible to provide evidence that OH&S refers to the entire organization, and not only on processes for which there are legal regulations or high risk zones, and that the concept of OH&S includes a process of continuous improvement.
To prevent accidents and reduce their effects in the future, employers must provide:
employees know that the employer is interested in safety at work;
consistent implementation of safety regulations;
Provide a safe workplace for all employees;
Implement OSHA accident and injury investigations and reporting;
to organize training for employees and provide information about common security policy, procedures, availability of equipment for first aid, protection, etc.;
Develop a prescribed set of safety rules to be followed and ensure that all employees are aware of the rules.
All employers should develop a program/plan for occupational safety and health, as well as personnel responsible for its implementation and compliance with OSHA standards. The program should be appropriate to the conditions at the workplace, as well as the hazards to which the employees are exposed and the number of employees there. The safety and health program should be aimed at reducing injuries, illnesses and deaths and have a systematic approach to improving safety and health.
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Figure 1. Detailed risk management process (ISO 31000:2009)
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5.1 Hazard identification
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5.2 Methods (Tools and techniques) of risk assessment
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5.3 Risk management strategies
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5.4 Risk communication
6. Emergency Response Planning
Emergency plans according to Directive 2012/18/EU should ensure that Member States for all higher level facilities:
a)the operator creates an internal emergency plan for the measures to be taken inside the facility;
b)the operator submits the necessary information to the competent authority to enable it to develop external contingency plans;
c)bodies appointed by the Member State for that purpose draw up an external emergency plan for measures to be taken outside the facility within two years after receiving the necessary information from the operator in accordance with point (b).
Emergency plans are developed with the following objectives:
a)limiting and controlling incidents, in order to minimize the effects and to limit the damage to human health, the environment and property;
b)implementing the necessary measures to protect human health and the environment from the effects of major accidents;
c)communicating necessary information to the public and relevant local services or bodies;
d)ensuring the restoration and clean-up of the environment after a major accident.
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6.1 Emergency response planning process
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6.2 Roles and Responsibilities of the Emergency Response Team
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6.3 Emergency response procedures
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6.4 Emergency communication
7. Case studies of industrial accidents
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7.1 Case studies of major industrial accidents (eg Bhopal, Chernobyl, Fukushima)
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7.2 Political responsibility
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7.3 Cause and effect analysis
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7.4 Lessons learned and best practices
8. Prevention and mitigation measures
The basic principle is to prevent a major accident, and in the event of such an event, the goal is to limit the consequences.
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8.1 Prevention measures (eg engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment)
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8.2 Mitigation measures (eg emergency response planning, post-accident cleanup and remediation, compensation for affected individuals)
Conclusion
Industrial accidents are not isolated incidents; they permeate every aspect of society. The consequences range from the immediate and visible, such as injuries and property damage, to subtle and insidious diseases or environmental erosion. The consequences of industrial accidents highlight the complex interaction between human activities, the environment and society. While immediate efforts are focused on rescue and recovery, it is vital to recognize the long-term impacts that permeate various aspects of life. A comprehensive approach to prevention, preparedness and response is essential to mitigate the far-reaching consequences of such disasters. Industries must prioritize safety protocols, governments must enforce strict regulations, and communities must actively participate in disaster management plans. By acknowledging and addressing the human health, environmental, economic, legal and social consequences, we can work towards a safer and more resilient future.
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