International Dimensions of Ethics
Case Study:
The Bhopal Plant Disaster
•
Massive toxic gas leak from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)
chemical plant at Bhopal in December, 1984.
•
Thousands killed and hundreds of thousands injured by 40 ton
release of methyl isocyanate (MIC).
•
Caused by unsafe conditions and series of failures in poorly
maintained and understaffed plant.
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE
International Dimensions of Ethics
Some Context:
• The Bhopal Plant
– Built in late 1960’s to process pesticides
– Expanded in 1970’s to add production capability
– Production cut in 1980’s due to market forces and decision to sell plant
• Ownership and Operation
– Union Carbide owned controlling share (50.9%) of UCIL
– Plant managed and staffed locally by UCIL
• Climate
– Plant initially welcomed at Bhopal for its economic potential
– Located 2 miles from city center; surrounding population expanded
significantly between construction and disaster
– Government classified plant as “general” (not “hazardous”) industry in
1976, even after approving MIC-based processes at plant and
establishing a “hazardous industry” zone 15 miles from city
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE
International Dimensions of Ethics
The Disaster: Contributing Factors
Human Error
– Critical isolation valve not closed before pipes were flushed with water,
causing the fatal pressurization of tank containing MIC.
– Flare for flame neutralization of escaping gas was shut down
Inadequate Safety Equipment
– Reach of sprayer for water neutralization of escaping gas was
inadequate. Plant managers were aware of deficiency.
– Flare system lacked capacity for major gas leak.
Failure of Safety Equipment
– Stack scrubber, activated by operator during leak, failed.
Poor Maintenance
– Tank refrigerators inoperable; had been drained of freon
– Blockage in pipes meant to drain water that pressurized tank
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE
International Dimensions of Ethics
The Disaster: Contributing Factors (cont.)
Inadequate Staffing
– Union-Carbide-trained supervisors had left Bhopal by 1984
– Staffing in MIC unit had been cut below half of recommended level
– Second-shift maintenance supervisor position eliminated weeks before
disaster
Lack of Evacuation Plans
– Visiting Union Carbide engineers repeatedly stressed need for a plan to
alert and evacuate population in the event of a gas leak
– UCIL claimed to have developed such plans
– City and state officials claimed no knowledge of such plans
Inadequate Response
– Warning siren activated upon leak, but only for a few minutes
– Public response panicked, evacuation slow and uncoordinated
– Response of medical workers hampered by lack of info about MIC
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE
International Dimensions of Ethics
Ethical Dimensions: Discussion
• What are the ethical dimensions of the Bhopal case?
• Who are the stakeholders, and what were their ethical
responsibilities?
• Which ethical dimensions arise from, or are complicated
by, the international nature of the case?
Consider international dimensions via…
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE
International Dimensions of Ethics
Analysis of International Dimensions
Recall Framework
•
Apply ethics prevailing in the society where activity
occurs no matter who does it.
•
Apply ethics of own society to all activities of its
members wherever the activity occurs
•
Develop ethical principles and rules common to all
societies where the scientific or engineering work
occurs.
Adopted from The Bhopal Plant Disaster, IDEESE Case Study Series, © 2008 IDEESE