Drones, Robots To Take Over Disaster Response

AI and social media will fast-track disaster management systems; 3d printing, internet of things to minimise human intervention, accidents

- Muralee Thummarukudy, Chief, Disaster Risk Reduction, UN Environment Programme

Leakage of methyl isocyanate (MIC) from the chemical plant of the Union Carbide India (Ltd), in Bhopal in 1984, was one of the worst industrial disasters of the world. According to estimates, 8,000 people died within two weeks of the accident, and 8,000 or more have since died from other gas-leak-related diseases.

Industrial accidents happen every year all over the world. There are ways in which countries and organisations can prepare themselves to minimise these occurrences, and respond to them effectively, should they occur.

Accidents, Emergencies And Disasters

While the terms accidents, emergencies and disasters are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. An accident (industrial) is a sudden and unexpected occurrence (in the industry), which interrupts the orderly progress of the work and has the potential to cause harm to people, assets, the environment or reputation. An emergency is an accident which, if not addressed rapidly, can deteriorate and become a disaster. A disaster is an event that disrupts the functioning of a system (be it an industry or a community) and causes human, material and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope with using its own resources. So, while the most critical aspect of emergency is the “time” element, the most important criterion in a disaster is “local capacity”.

Types Of Industrial Accidents