Loss of life

In recent years much more attention has been given to pipeline isolation, after instances in which the contents of export pipelines fed platform fires, adding significantly to damage and loss of life. Many export and in field pipelines are now fitted with emergency shutdown valves (ESDV) close to the production platform, to isolate the pipeline in the event of an emergency. 

Without proper control of hazards, a sequence of events (scenario) occurs which results ia an accident. A hazard is defined as anything which could result ia an accident, ie, an unplaimed sequence of events which results ia iajury or loss of life, damage to the environment, loss of capital equipment, or loss of production or inventory. 

In 1982, seven people died from consuming cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. The incident resulted in a total product recall, massive negative pubHcity for the product, new requirements for safe packaging, and a federal statute making product tampering a crime (2). Since that time, the packaging industry has become visible to most consumers. This awareness has benefited the consumer by a reduction in loss of life due to consumption of adulterated products from tampering. Never before has an industry reacted so swiftly to resolve a problem. 

Whereas an explosion from methane tends to be localized, it may start coal dust explosions resulting in more widespread injury and loss of life. AH coal breaking operations result in formation of fine coal particles some are controlled with water during the mining operation. Breakage associated with hauling disperses dust, and dust accumulations can be made safe by rockdusting. Powdered limestone is spread over the mine surfaces to cover the dust. 

Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Wastes for deliveiy to a treatment or disposal facility normally are collected by the waste producer or a licensed, speciahzed hauler. Typically, the loading of collection vehicles is completed in one of two ways (1) wastes stored in large-capacity tanks are either drained or pumped into collection vehicles, and (2) wastes stored in sealed drums or other sealed containers are loaded by hand or by mechanical equipment onto flatbed trucks. To avoid accidents and possible loss of life, two collectors shoiild always be assigned when hazardous wastes are to be collected. 

Much of the damage and loss of life in chemical accidents results from the sudden release of material at high pressures which may or may not resiilt from fire. Chemical releases caused by fires and the failure of process equipment and pipelines can form toxic clouds that can be dangerous to people over large areas. 

For a eatastrophie failure in the aerospaee industry with a high probability of loss of life, whieh relates to an FMEA Severity Rating (S) = 10, a business eould quite possibly need insuranee eover well in exeess of 100 million. This will allow for eosts due to failure investigations, legal aetions, produet reeall and possible loss of... 

If severity increases to, say, complete failure with probable severe injury and/or loss of life S = 9), the designer should reduce occurrence below the level afforded by two independent characteristics protecting against the fault. If each is designed to, then this implies a failure rate of ... 

Complete failure with probable severe injury and/or loss of life... 

No attempt should be made to wash or rinse the victim at the worksite unless the individual is known to be contaminated with an extremely toxic or corrosive material that could cause further severe injury or loss of life. 

The original steam generators were simple pressure vessels that were prone to caiasirophic failures and loss of life. Due to better boiler design, tube-fired boilers, and boiler inspections, the incidence of catastrophic failure is now to a rare event (about once every 100,000 vessel-years). In Great Britain in 1866, there were 74 steam boiler explosions causing 77 deaths. This was reduced to 17 explo.sions and 8 deaths in 1900 as a result of inspections performed by the Manchester Steam User Association. In the United States, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers established the ASME Pressure Ves.sel Codes with comparable reductions. 

Cross-comparing the risks of various activities is difficult because of the lack of a common basis of comparison, however Cohen and Lee, 1979 provide such a comparison on the basis of loss of life expectancy. Solomon and Abraham, 1979 used an index of harm in a study of 6 occupational harms - three radiological and three nonradiological to bracket high and low estimates of radiological effects. The index of harm consists of a weighting factor for parametric study the lost time in an industry and the worker population at risk. The conclusions were that the data are too imprecise for firm conclusions but it is possible for a radiation worker under pessimistic health effects assumptions to have as high index of harm as the other industries compared. 

A Safety Case is a narrative that literally makes the case that an adequate level of safety has been reached for an installation. It requires looking at all potential hazards which could lead to a loss of the installation, a loss of life, or a major pollution event. A risk analysis is performed on each hazard evaluating the probability of the event occurring and describing the magnitude of the consequences. A discussion is then given of the measure undertaken to lower the probability of occurrence or to mitigate the consequences and a case is made that the risk for the installation meets the ALARP safety criteria. 

Snccessful case histories of flame arrester applications are not commonly reported since no damage to eqnipment or loss of life occnrred. However, one case history was fonnd in the technical literatnre, which is presented below. 

Major and minor type failures are treated. Minor failures are defined as those which cause (or would have caused) an unscheduled shutdown of equipment for a period of less than 24 hours. A major failure is defined as any failure which results in an unscheduled shutdown for a period tif greater than 24 hours. Safety-related failures were defined as failures which resulted either in a fire, injury, loss of life, or a large lea)c of liquid or gas. To qualify as a safety-related failure, the liquid or gas release had to be large enough to have the potential to injure or have injured plant personnel, or have been severe enough to propagate beyond the immediate area. 

As diseussed earlier, nuelear aeeidents have not been the only aeeidents to oeeur in reeent times. Other disasters at ehemieal plants have been responsible for a mueh greater loss of life. The worst disaster in the reeent history of the ehemieal industry oeeurred in Bhopal, in eentral India, on Deeember 3, 1984. A leak of methyl isoeyaiiate (MIC) from a ehemieal plant, where it was used as an intermediate in the manufaeture of a pesiieide, spread into tlie adjaeent eity and eaused the poisoning deatli of more tlian 2500 people approximately 20,000 others were injured. 

Most fire accidents involve a large loss of life and extensive property diuiiage. Frequently, a fire is preceded by an explosion, E.xplosions are usually more letlial than fires (see Section 7.4). Some major fires in industrial plants liave been described in detail in tlie literauire. ... 

FARs for tile two types of accidents are equal and it is likely tliat over long periods of time an equal number of deaths may be expected from both types of accidents. This does not mean tliat equal consequences will result to Uie company from both types of accidents. Accidents of the first type involve a low (but, perhaps, steady) loss of life. Accidents of the second type, however, arc sure to attract a great deal of attention in the media. Adverse public relations is nearly certain, as well as mifavorable attention from legislators and otlier public officials. 

If the incident constitutes a reportable accident as defined in legislation the plant engineer will also ensure that the incident is immediately reported to the Factory Inspectorate. The Inspectorate will decide whether they wish to carry out an enquiry and, particularly if there has been loss of life, the accident site may be compulsorily isolated. Unless this is so, investigation by the insurer or a loss adjuster acting on his behalf may proceed. 

Although damage to the plant was extensive, there was no loss of life. There were 15 disabling and 102 non-disabling injuries. Slight damage and minor injuries also resulted beyond... 

Why study marine toxins Episodes like the one above are one reason they command attention because of the loss of life and health when they occur or because of the costs of preventing and avoiding them. Much research on marine toxins is directed toward moderating their impact by understanding the various syndromes and developing effective strategies to deal with them. 

Violence has also expanded into the public schools to a degree never before observed. Metropolitan areas are seeing almost daily reports of students bringing knives and guns into the schools. In fact, a recent survey showed that 11% of teachers and 23% of students nationwide have been victims of violence in school.219 In addition to the suffering and loss of life, the monetary cost to society of every murder is calculated at 2.4 million.220... 

The growing concerns about the public health and environmental impacts of pesticides have led many in the general public and the government to question whether all the benefits of pesticides, such as the perfect red apple, are worth the associated costs of environmental pollution, human illness and loss of life, bird kills, and the destruction of other beneficial natural organisms. Indeed, some agriculturists have been viewed as primarily concerned with promoting commercial interests rather than protecting public health and the environment. 

Throughout the world explosives manufacturers have amassed many years of experience and have spent many millions of pounds to ensure as far as possible the safety of those working for them with explosives. Even so, accidents still occur with distressing injury and loss of life. Where these companies cannot succeed the amateur would be foolish to try. 

Areas with high income inequality and low average income had an excess mortality of 139.8 deaths per 100000, compared with areas with low inequality and high income. In 1995, the magnitude of this mortality difference was comparable to the combined loss of life from lung cancer, diabetes, motor crashes, HIV, suicide, and homicide combined (Lynch et al., 1998, p. 1079). 

Nematode parasites present a serious problem for most animals and for humans in developing countries. These parasites produce various symptoms including ill thrift, poor growth, diarrhoea and, in around 1 % of cases, loss of life. The economic forces are such that new drugs for the treatment of nematode parasites have been developed first for animal use and only later for human use. A recent example is the development of the antibiotic anthelmintic, ivermectin, which was introduced first for the treatment of cattle nematode parasites and has subsequently been used to control river blindness , an eye condition seen in west Africa caused by farvae of Onchocerca volvulus. 

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