Disaster management plan for chemical process industries. Case study: investigation of release of chlorine to atmosphere

The first step in preparing a disaster management plan for any chemical pro cess industry (CPI) is to identify and mitigate the conditions that might c ause them. In practice, such a plan should start early in the design phase of the chemical facility, and continue throughout its life. The objective i s to prevent emergencies by eliminating hazards wherever possible. In-spite of the advances made in knowledge and technology, failure-free design and devices have remained elusive. Even the well designed and inherently safe c hemical facility must prepare to control potentially hazardous events that are caused by human or mechanical failure, or by natural forces such as flo ods or earthquakes. The need for effective technological disaster managemen t programs by chemical facilities and their neighbouring communities became painfully clear in the 1980s, a decade marred by tragic events linked to t he manufacture and distribution of chemical products. Unfortunately, severa l events during this decade, though not on a scale to match the previous on e, have nevertheless cast a heavy burden and responsibility on the manageme nt. The chemical industry has vigorously responded to these problems in a w ide variety of ways. The CPI took actions to improve the reliability of the ir operations, drew up emergency plans in consultation with the neighbourho od and the regulating authorities and practise emergency exercises regularl y to alleviate public fear. Manali Industries in Chennai (Madras) is an exe mplary model in India. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.