Abstract:
The case gives an overview of the Bhopal gas tragedy. On December 3, 1984, poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL's) pesticide plant in Bhopal, which killed thousands of people. The case brings out the ethical issues involved in the disaster.
It discusses in detail the reasons behind the disaster. The case discusses the role played by Union Carbide Corporation after the disaster, which seemed to be unethical. It also talks about the role of the GOI and Madhya Pradesh government in the disaster. The case is intended for MBA/PGDBM level students as a part of the Business Ethics Curriculum.
From the case, students are expected to understand the ethical issues involved in the Bhopal gas tragedy and the role played by the governments in the disaster. With the help of the Theory of Image Restoration, students are expected to understand how Union Carbide responded to the situation. They should also analyze how Union Carbide should have responded to the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Issues:
» Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
» Reaction of the UCIL.
» Role of government in granting permission.
» Failure of safety measures.
» Delay in Justice.
“The numerous safety systems with which this type of factories is equipped enable us to control any of the MIC's potentially dangerous reactions.”
- A Union Carbide official commenting on the safety systems in the Bhopal pesticide plant.
“It's not a deadly gas, just irritating, a sort of tear gas.”
- Dr Loya, Union Carbide's official doctor in Bhopal, commenting on Methyl Isocyanate, after the tragedy.
Introduction
In the early morning hours of December 3, 1984, a poisonous grey cloud (forty tons of toxic gases) from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL's)1 pesticide plant at Bhopal spread throughout the city. Water carrying catalytic material had entered Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) storage tank No. 610. What followed was a nightmare.
The killer gas spread through the city, sending residents scurrying through the dark streets. No alarm ever sounded a warning and no evacuation plan was prepared. When victims arrived at hospitals breathless and blind, doctors did not know how to treat them, as UCIL had not provided emergency information.
It was only when the sun rose the next morning that the magnitude of the devastation was clear. Dead bodies of humans and animals blocked the streets, leaves turned black, the smell of burning chilli peppers lingered in the air.
Estimates suggested that as many as 10,000 may have died immediately and 30,000 to 50,000 were too ill to ever return to their jobs.
The catastrophe raised some serious ethical issues. The pesticide factory was built in the midst of densely populated settlements. UCIL chose to store and produce MIC, one of the most deadly chemicals (permitted exposure levels in USA and Britain are 0.02 parts per million), in an area where nearly 120,000 people lived.
The MIC factory was not designed to handle a runaway reaction. When the uncontrolled reaction started, MIC was flowing through the scrubber (meant to neutralize MIC emissions) at more than 200 times its designed capacity. MIC in the tank was filled to 87% of its capacity while the maximum permissible was 50%.
MIC was not stored at zero degree centigrade as prescribed and the refrigeration and cooling systems had been shut down five months before the disaster, as part of UCC's global economy drive.
Vital gauges and indicators in the MIC tank were defective. The flare tower meant to burn off MIC emissions was under repair at the time of the disaster and the scrubber contained no caustic soda.
As part of UCC's drive to cut costs, the work force in the Bhopal factory was brought down by half from 1980 to 1984.
This had serious consequences on safety and maintenance. The size of the work crew for the MIC plant was cut in half from twelve to six workers...
The Journey from Virginia to Bhopal
In the beginning of the 20th century, UCC was born of a merger of four US companies producing batteries and arc lamps for street lighting and headlamps for cars. By the second half of the 20th century, UCC had 130 subsidiaries in 40 countries, approximately 500 production sites and 120,000 employees...
All's Not Well with the Bhopal Plant
Since 1980, the Bhopal plant had caused death and injury to many. In December 1981, plant operator Mohammed Ashraf was killed by a phosgene gas leak. Two other workers were injured. In May 1982, three American engineers from the chemical products and household plastics division of UCC came to Bhopal...
The Tragedy
On the night of December 2, 1984, during routine maintenance operations at the MIC plant, at about 9.30 p.m., a large quantity of water entered storage tank no. 610 containing over 40 tons of MIC. This triggered off a reaction, resulting in a tremendous increase of temperature and pressure in the tank...
Union Carbide Takes the Offensive
Following the accident, the GoI filed a compensation lawsuit against the UCC for an estimated US$3 billion. However, UCC felt that the GoI was to blame for the disaster. In December 1986, UCC filed a countersuit against the GoI and the State of Madhya Pradesh...
The Settlement
Within months after the disaster, the GoI issued an ordinance appointing itself as the sole representative of the victims for any legal dealings with UCC as regards compensation. The ordinance was later replaced by the Bhopal Gas Leak (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985...
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