Chemical Safety and Its Importance

Summary

In this chemistry lecture for engineers, Joey Laxo discusses chemical safety, emphasizing its importance with real-world examples of chemical incidents, such as the Texas City disaster and the Beirut explosion. The lecture highlights the dangers of ammonium nitrate and the need for proper safety management, employee training, and awareness. It also touches on household chemical safety, advising against mixing bleach and acid, and concludes with the benefits of chemical safety in preventing accidents and ensuring legal compliance.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Chemical safety is a crucial part of the chemistry for engineers lecture series, focusing on preventing harm from chemical exposure.
• 🏗️ Historical chemical incidents, such as the Texas City disaster and the Beirut explosion, highlight the devastating consequences of improper chemical handling.
• 🌍 Chemical incidents can occur worldwide and have far-reaching impacts, affecting both people and the environment.
• 🚨 Ammonium nitrate, a common substance in fertilizers, has been involved in multiple major explosions due to its reactive nature under certain conditions.
• 🧯 Lessons from past accidents emphasize the importance of proper safety management, understanding inherent hazards, and employee training.
• 🏠 Household chemicals, like bleach and muriatic acid, can be dangerous when mixed, leading to the release of toxic gases.
• 🛡️ Chemical safety education is not only for industrial settings but also applicable to everyday life, helping prevent accidents at home.
• 🏛️ The impact of chemical incidents extends beyond immediate harm, causing long-term environmental damage and health issues.
• 📚 Understanding chemical safety is essential for creating a secure working environment and ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• ♻️ Chemical incidents can lead to significant material and equipment loss, emphasizing the economic importance of proper chemical management.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the second part of the chemical safety lecture series?

The main focus of the second part of the chemical safety lecture series is to define chemical safety and discuss its importance, covering various chemical incidents around the world and their implications.

What are the key learning outcomes expected at the end of the chemical safety discussion?

At the end of the chemical safety discussion, students are expected to be able to define chemical safety and discuss its importance, understand the nature of chemical hazards, and learn from the incidents discussed.

What was the cause of the silo explosion in Allpow, Germany, on September 21, 1921?

The silo explosion in Allpow, Germany, was caused by a mixture of approximately 4,500 tons of ammonium sulfate nitrate.

What were the consequences of the ammonium nitrate explosion on the freighter Grandcamp in 1947?

The explosion of ammonium nitrate on the freighter Grandcamp in 1947 killed almost 600 people, injured thousands, and caused significant damage to infrastructures, including the Monsanto chemical plant.

What was the impact of the Texas City refinery explosion in 2005 on the local community?

The Texas City refinery explosion in 2005 resulted in 15 fatalities, over 150 injuries, and caused significant damage to the refinery and surrounding areas.

Why was the leakage of benzene into the Songwa River in China considered a disaster?

The leakage of benzene into the Songwa River in China was considered a disaster because it caused millions of people to flee their homes due to the unavailability of drinking water, highlighting the severe environmental and health impact.

What is the chemical formula for ammonium nitrate, and why is it significant in the context of the lecture?

The chemical formula for ammonium nitrate is NH4NO3. It is significant in the context of the lecture because it has been involved in multiple major chemical incidents, including the Texas City disaster and the Beirut explosion.

What are some lessons learned from the analysis of major accidents involving fertilizers?

Some lessons learned from the analysis of major accidents involving fertilizers include the importance of proper safety management culture, knowledge of inherent hazards, and training and awareness of hazards to prevent such incidents.

Why is it dangerous to mix bleach and muriatic acid in household settings?

Mixing bleach and muriatic acid in household settings is dangerous because it produces chlorine gas, which is toxic and can cause severe health issues or even death.

What is the significance of studying chemical safety in both industrial and domestic settings?

Studying chemical safety is significant in both industrial and domestic settings as it helps prevent chemical incidents, reduces the risk of accidents, ensures compliance with laws, and promotes a safer working and living environment.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Chemical Safety in Engineering: An Overview

Joey Laxo introduces the second part of the chemical safety lecture series for engineers. The lecture focuses on chemical safety, its importance, and the hazards associated with chemical exposure. It is part of the chemistry for engineers curriculum and is scheduled for the first week. The lecture reviews the definition of chemical hazards and provides historical examples of chemical incidents worldwide, such as the ammonium sulfate nitrate silo explosion in Germany in 1921, the ammonium nitrate explosion on the Grandcamp freighter in Texas in 1947, and the Bhopal disaster in India in 1984. These incidents illustrate the devastating effects of chemical mishandling and the necessity for understanding chemical safety.

05:02

💥 Lessons Learned from Chemical Disasters

This section delves into the analysis of major chemical accidents involving fertilizers, particularly ammonium nitrate, which has been a common cause of explosions. The discussion includes case studies where poor safety management, lack of hazard knowledge, and inadequate employee training were identified as contributing factors. The lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding the risks associated with chemicals, the need for regular safety training, and the implementation of proper safety procedures to prevent such accidents. It also mentions recent incidents, including the Texas City disaster in 2013 and the Beirut explosion, to highlight the ongoing relevance of these lessons.

10:03

🧪 The Chemistry Behind Fertilizer Explosions

The lecture explores the chemical reactions that lead to fertilizer explosions, using ammonium nitrate as a primary example. It explains the decomposition process of ammonium nitrate when exposed to heat, leading to the production of gases and a subsequent increase in pressure, which can result in a detonation. The section also addresses public curiosity about the safety of ammonium nitrate stored for mining activities, especially in light of recent incidents. The summary serves to educate on the chemical properties of substances that can be hazardous and the importance of proper handling and storage.

15:03

🚨 Chemical Incidents and Their Impact

This part of the lecture defines a chemical incident as any event that exposes people or the environment to chemical hazards, such as explosions, leaks, or contamination. It covers various types of chemical incidents, including industrial accidents, oil spills, and the deliberate release of chemicals. The lecture also touches on the long-term effects of chemical exposure, citing the Minamata disease outbreak caused by mercury poisoning. It underscores the importance of chemical safety in preventing such incidents and the benefits of a safe working environment, reduced staff loss, and compliance with legal standards.

Keywords

💡Chemical Safety

Chemical safety refers to the measures and practices taken to prevent accidents, injuries, and health hazards resulting from the use, storage, and handling of chemicals. In the video, chemical safety is the central theme, emphasizing its importance in both industrial settings and everyday life. The lecturer discusses various chemical incidents to highlight the significance of adhering to chemical safety protocols.

💡Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a chemical compound commonly used as a fertilizer and in explosives. The video script mentions several incidents involving ammonium nitrate, such as the Texas City disaster and the Beirut explosion, illustrating its potential hazards when not properly managed. Understanding its properties and handling procedures is crucial for chemical safety.

💡Chemical Incident

A chemical incident is an event that poses a threat or causes harm due to exposure to hazardous chemicals. Examples from the script include explosions, leaks, and contaminations. These incidents underscore the necessity of chemical safety measures to protect both individuals and the environment from the harmful effects of chemicals.

💡Hazard

A hazard is a potential source of harm or danger. In the context of the video, hazards are substances or conditions that can cause harm upon exposure. The lecturer discusses chemical hazards, which are substances that may cause harm, and the importance of identifying and managing these hazards to ensure safety.

💡Decomposition

Decomposition, in the context of the video, refers to the chemical breakdown of substances, such as ammonium nitrate, when exposed to heat or fire. The script explains how ammonium nitrate decomposes at high temperatures, releasing gases that can lead to explosions. This concept is crucial for understanding the causes of certain chemical incidents.

💡Toxic Gas

Toxic gas is a gas that can cause harm or death when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. The video mentions toxic gases resulting from chemical incidents, such as chlorine gas from the mixing of bleach and muriatic acid. Understanding the dangers of toxic gases is essential for promoting chemical safety and taking appropriate precautions.

💡Bhopal Disaster

The Bhopal Disaster, mentioned in the script, was a catastrophic event in 1984 where a gas leak at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries. This incident is a prime example of the devastating consequences of poor chemical safety practices and the importance of stringent safety measures in industrial settings.

💡Minamata Disease

Minamata disease is a neurological disorder caused by severe mercury poisoning, as discussed in the video. It originated from the release of methyl mercury into the environment from industrial wastewater in Minamata, Japan. This term highlights the long-term health impacts of chemical exposure and the need for chemical safety to prevent such incidents.

💡Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS)

RADS, as mentioned in the script, is a respiratory condition caused by the inhalation of toxic gases or chemicals. The video references a research paper on RADS in housewives due to a bleach and hydrochloric acid mixture, illustrating the potential for chemical incidents in domestic settings and the importance of chemical safety awareness.

💡Compliance with Law

Compliance with law in the context of the video refers to adhering to regulations and standards set forth to ensure chemical safety. The lecturer emphasizes that practicing chemical safety not only protects individuals and the environment but also ensures that companies are legally compliant, avoiding penalties and lawsuits related to chemical incidents.

Highlights

Introduction to the second part of the chemical safety lecture series for engineers.

Chemical safety is crucial and is the second of seven topics under this lecture series.

Definition and importance of chemical safety are discussed, emphasizing its relevance in the workplace.

Historical chemical incidents are reviewed, including the 1921 All POW Germany silo explosion.

The 1947 Texas City disaster and its aftermath are highlighted.

The 2005 Texas City refinery explosion and its consequences are discussed.

The 1984 Bhopal disaster is described as one of the worst industrial accidents in history.

Lessons learned from major accidents involving fertilizers are presented.

The role of ammonium nitrate in several chemical explosions is explained.

The Beirut explosion in 2020 and its impact are discussed.

The chemical reaction of ammonium nitrate when exposed to fire is explained.

The dangers of mixing household chemicals like bleach and muriatic acid are highlighted.

The importance of not mixing bleach and acid at home to prevent chlorine gas production is emphasized.

Chemical incidents, such as explosions, leaks, and contamination, are defined and exemplified.

The benefits of chemical safety in reducing workplace hazards and improving the work environment are discussed.

The lecture concludes with a call to action for applying chemical safety knowledge at home and in the workplace.

Transcripts

hello everyone this is joey laxo once

again your lecturer in chemistry for

engineer

and we are now in the second part of the

chemical safety lecture series

so let me check on the presentation

there you have it

so again as mentioned

this lecture is still on chemical safety

which is a part of the chemistry

for engineers lecture series

this lesson is scheduled to be tackled

during the first week of the semester

and for this particular session a

discussion in chemical safety and its

importance is covered which is

the second of the seven topics that are

discussed

under chemical safety we are now on the

third part of our

lesson at the end of this discussion

you are expected to be able to define

chemical safety and discuss

its importance during the previous

lesson

we were able to define what hazard is

enumerated the different classifications

of work hazards and gave examples for

each of them

we also learned that chemical hazards

are substances

that may cause harm upon exposure to

them

in the next slides we are to have a view

on some occurrences of chemical

incidents around the world

in september 21 1921 eighty percent

of the homes in all pow germany were

destroyed and the roofs of houses

that were located 25 kilometers away

from the explosion area were ripped off

the incident was due to a silo explosion

containing an approximately 4

500 tons of ammonium sulfate nitrate

mixture in april 16 1947

almost 600 people were killed and left

thousands injured due to the explosion

of ammonium nitrate on the freighter

grand

the wave caused by the explosion swapped

buildings and other infrastructures

including the monsanto chemical plant

nearby

this incident killed 235

people and 3500 were

injured on march 23 2005

explosions and fire occurred during a

start-up

of an isomerization unit at texas city

refinery

which resulted in 15 fatalities and over

150

injuries in november 1 13 rather 2005

five people were killed and 70 were

injured

due to series of explosions in a

petrochemical

plant in china the disaster was due to a

malfunctioned unit for a nitration

process

hazardous compound benzene was reported

to have leaked into the songwa river

which caused millions of people to flee

their homes

due to an availability of drinking water

the incident in india in december 3 1984

is considered as one of the worst

industrial accidents in history

rain 45 tons of a compound from an

insecticide

plant was escaped

the unfortunate incident killed 15 000

to 20 000 people and around half million

survived

but they suffered respiratory problems

eye irritation blindness and other

maladies resulting from the exposure to

the toxic gas

in june 1 1974 cyclohexane vapor leaked

from a ruptured pipework

at the nipro site at flicks borough and

caused

large explosion the accident left 28

workers killed

and 36 injured on july 10

1976 in italy a reactor at the

mesa chemical plant overheated resulting

in an

explosion that exposed a triclonophenol

a chemical that is used to make

pesticides and antiseptics spread

there were no fatalities reported but

many

fell ill thousands of animals died and

thousands more were slaughtered to

prevent the toxic substance

in entering the food chain in september

21 2001

approximately 300 tons of ammonium

nitrate exploded

which killed 30 people and left 10

thousand

injuries this incident happened in

france

it also destroyed the site and wrecked

buildings three kilometer

from the city center

in november 1 1986 a fire broke in a

storage

building that housed pesticides mercury

and other highly poisonous agricultural

chemicals

ten days after the incident the

pollution from the plant traveled the

rhine river

and reached the north sea this caused a

death of

around half million fishes and some

species were entirely wiped out

among these nine major chemical

disasters worldwide enumerated by andy

bryce of independent commodity

intelligence services

three were due to ammonium nitrate

which is the same substance that caused

the explosion of a fertilizer plant in

texas city

in april 18 2013 that killed 15 people

and wiped out hundreds of homes ammonium

nitrate

is also the cause of the recent

explosion in beirut lebanon

killing more than 180 people and leaving

behind

more than 6 000 in doing

the accidents in texas usa where is that

where is that i can see it yeah there

texas city disaster and about germany

and in todos france i don't know if

i pronounce it properly

they are only some of the numerous

blasts caused by the explosion of

ammonium nitrate

with this let us explore some of the

lessons learned

from those tragic explosions as

presented in a paper

entitled lessons learned from major

accidents

involving fertilizers wherein the

results of the analysis of 25 major

accidents involving

fertilizers in europe were reviewed

please take note that ammonium nitrate

is the one that is used

as a fertilizer here's case number one

a fire occurred in a warehouse storing

fertilizers and chemical products

the first reaction of the personnel was

to attack the source of fire with

portable fire extinguishers

because there is an absence of activated

fire hose reels

the intervention of the firefighters

appeared to focus solely on the presence

of ammonium nitrate fertilizer

ignoring the nature of other chemical

products the fertilizer became

mixed with organic material

in addition poorly insulated power

cables were near the fertilizer pile

and the wooden pallets were in contact

with the fertilizer compounds

these compounds then caught fire during

the composition and released heat

accelerating the decomposition of the

fertilizer

the accident resulted in a slight injury

of three employees and 38 000 people

were evacuated for eight

hours based on the analysis one of the

lessons that were learned

was that the personnel of the

establishment

were not aware of the risks associated

with

fertilizer for case number two

self decompensation decomposition of

nitrogen phosphorus potassium

fertilizers

led to a fire in a storage silo and

release

of toxic substances mainly nitrogen

oxides

it was thought that exposure to moisture

had caused the caking in a portion of

the product

in addition the product may have been in

contact with organic material

specifically pigeon excrement moreover a

large amount of the

nitrogen phosphorus potassium

fertilizers

was stored in the same location without

proper

separation it was recommended

that a regular training on the employees

should be done

to ensure that the safety procedures and

periodic monitoring

are done religiously in case number

three

the cause of the accident was identified

as decomposition of ammonium nitrate

these conditions resulted in the

formation of a large amount of gas

leading to the rupture of the top from

over pressure leading

to explosion lapses on the hazard

identification

safety procedures and employee training

were seen as a drawbacks of the third

case

in a nutshell accidents such as those

that were discussed

were seen to have related to poor safety

management culture lack of knowledge

of the inherent hazards and the lack of

training and awareness

of hazards this are the reasons

why chemical safety is incorporated in

the subject

since it has a laboratory component

moreover you will be employed

some of you will be employed in

industrial plant where

ian there are hazardous chemical

substances

that are bar that are being employed as

part of their process

the activities to be undertaken may not

be as hazardous as the ones

that were presented but

knowing the basics on chemical safety

will save you

from those potential hazards

probably your curiosity on how

fertilizers explode are somehow

triggered

with the examples given specially that

what happened recently in beirut

is somewhat disturbing that people began

to ask

if ammonium nitrates that are stored in

subixambalas for mining activities

are safe or not all right let us feed

your

curiosity let me change my pointer

into a laser here oh what happened

let's go back recall from your general

chemistry that your ammonium nitrate

has a chemical formula nh4 nh4no3

as there stands that this substance is

solid

when energy is applied to it like fire

the molecule is no longer stable

at temperatures greater than 230 degree

celsius this ammonium nitrate decomposes

into dinitrogen oxide and water vapor

further increase in temperature say 260

to 300 degrees celsius

the dinitrogen oxide will further

decompose

into nitrogen gas and oxygen gas

because all the products are gaseous

there is a

sudden large increase in pressure

that will travel outwards at supersonic

speeds

which is referred to as detonation

what happened to beirut according to

reports was

there was a fire nearby which increased

the temperature in the area where the

ammonium nitrate was

stored your basic knowledge in chemical

safety will also save your household and

possible accidents related

to chemicals see here title

of some news articles re

accidental mix of bleach and acid kills

buffalo wild wings employee

and then we have here a research paper

entitled reactive airways

dysfunction syndrome in housewives due

to a bleach hydrochloric acid mixture so

let's see what happened

household items such as bleach your zone

rocks for example and

acid like your muriatic acid when mixed

together can be fatal depending on the

amount of toxic gas that was

inhaled by the person the active

ingredient

of your bleach is called your sodium

hypochlorite

naocl and your mariatic acid

is your diluted hydrochloric

acid when these two are mixed together

a production of chlorine gas to reoccur

chlorine gas is

toxic so please never ever mix your

bleach

and mariatic acid found in your homes

all the unfortunate events that were

shown are examples

of chemical incidents a chemical

incident

is an event that may threaten to expose

or do expose members of the public and

the environment

to a chemical hazard

an example of a chemical incident is an

explosion at a place that

stores or utilizes chemicals such as

what happened

in beirut another example is

oil spill on the photo is the oil spill

incident

from one of the old pipelines in the

western mindanao power corporation

which has been operating a bunker fueled

power plant in zamboanga city

this occurred in 2017.

a chemical leak from a storage unit

during transport

is also an example of a chemical

incident

in a day in october 6 2018 a container

vine carrying flammable chemicals were

spilled along legard

avenue as a result classes were

suspended at arelliano university

which is located on the area of the

incident as recommended by the manila

disaster risk reduction and management

office

and the bureau bureau of fire protection

another example of a chemical incident

is a deliberate

release of chemicals during times in

conflict

like when tear gases are thrown over

protesters in order

to stop the commotions

in the picture are people contracted

with a minamata disease

a neurological disorder caused by severe

mercury poisoning

this is an example of a disease outbreak

associated with a chemical

exposure the disease was first

discovered in minamata city

in kumamoto perfection

it is in japan in 1956 it was caused by

the release of methyl mercury in the

industrial wastewater

from the chisu corporation's chemical

factory

from 1932 to 1968.

this highly toxic chemical

bioaccumulated in shellfish and fish

in minamata bay and the shiranu sea

which when eaten by the local populace

resulted

in mercury poisoning this disease

outbreak

associated with chemical exposure is an

example

of a chemical incident another type of a

cameo incident is the food

and water supply chemical contamination

just like what happened in bhopal india

in 1984

after the disastrous incident soil and

water contamination in the area

was blamed for chronic health problems

and high instances of birth defects in

the area's inhabitants

and in the year 2004 the indian supreme

court ordered the state to supply

clean drinking water to the residents of

bhopal

because the ground water because of

groundwater

contamination

because everyone needs to be safe from

any chemical incident

we must study chemical safety which

tackles about the condition

of being safe during an occurrence of a

chemical incident

in addition to saving lives knowledge

on chemical safety also creates better

working environment

of course the feeling of security while

at work reduces

the psychological hazards another

advantage of chemical safety is that

it reduces the loss of trained staff

because there will be a minimum

if not elimination of occurrences that

results

in workers accidents related to chemical

mishandling

when there are no chemical incidents

just like the examples mentioned

there is also a reduction in the loss of

equipment and material

moreover the practice of chemical safety

also ensures

companies that they are compliant with

the law

here is the list of some referentials

should you wish

to go on further readings

thank you for listening that's it

for our

oh wait wait are we where are we

minimize do not minimize anyway

that's it yeah and for our second

topic under chemical safety i hope that

you enjoyed your learning

i hope that you are learning a lot and i

hope

that whatever you are learning from the

discussion you're going to apply it

starting from your own

homes tell your household members

never ever mix

your zone rocks and mariatic acids

together

because it will deliberate chlorine gas

that

is very toxic when that occurs

you go evacuate yourself to a place

where there is enough air or oxygen

so that the chlorine gas

and oxygen rather will replenish the

chlorine gas

that has been inhaled but

in the event that there are a lot okay a

large volume of the chlorine gas was

inhaled and

the person that was exposed to it is no

longer

does no longer feel good bring him or

her to the hospital

for a proper treatment so there you have

it see you in the third session

bye

hi to how to