Tutorial 1: Union Carbide (India) Ltd.

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Tutorial 1Union Carbide (India) Ltd.

• Roshanak Moradi
• Munira Jessa
• SY DE 142 May 10, 2004
• Introduction to Human Systems Engineering
• Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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Union Carbide (India) Ltd.

• A synopsis from INVITING DISASTER LESSONS FROM
  THE EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY, by J. R. CHILES
• Union Carbide (India) Ltd. Plant Release of
  Highly toxic chemicals into CommunityBhopal,
  Mahdya Pradesh , IndiaDecember 3rd, 1984

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• According to Indian government, factory
  producing highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC)
  for herbicides was poorly maintained,
  particularly safety equipment. Storage tank
  vented tons of MIC after water from pipe-washing
  job accidentally got into tank, causing violent
  reaction that remaining safeties could not
  handle. Union Carbide claims worker sabotage put
  water into tank third theory says workers
  mistakenly put water into tank to cool it off.
  Deaths officially estimated 7,000.
• from Inviting Disaster, p.306