Let us first distinguish between industrial and technological disasters. In fact, there is no demarcation between them. In a broader sense, an accident or a disaster in an industrial unit can be termed as industrial, while all others can be called as technological, e.g. war, nuclear accidents, train and accidents, and the like. Such events, when occurred engulf a large surrounding area in its aftermath. The concept of On Site and off Site is easily discernible in these two categories.
Range of chemical disasters:
A very large number of hazardous chemicals are in use in chemical & petrochemical industries – in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. They can cause the following types of accidents:
a) Fire
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b) Toxic gas leak
c) BLEV – (boiling liquid expansion vapour explosion) – this is highly dangerous, giving no notice to sudden explosion.
d) Cascading or Domino Effect – Original primary accident at one of chemical reacting with adjacent chemicals and thus, giving rise to enormously complex catastrophe.
Conventional Accidents:
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General technological accidents not involving the hazardous chemicals are no less serious; only their aftermath is, relatively, of a lower intensity. Compressed Air, Superheated Steam can rupture the pipes leading to explosion or fire. Boiler Burst or bursting of any pressure vessel; electrical short circuits, structure collapse, drowning in tanks, etc. can constitute the accidents in an Engineering or non-chemical industry. They are usually “on site” and manageable by the industry, itself.