An evaluation of risk assessment framework for industrial accidents in India. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sengupta, A.; Bandyopadhyay, D.; van Westen, C.J.; van der Veen, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of loss prevention in the process industries. Volume 41(2016:May)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 302
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Hazardous industries -- Policy -- Regulations -- Risk analysis -- Risk evaluation -- India; ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable -- ALARP As Low As Reasonably Practicable -- CPCB Central Pollution Control Board -- DGFASLI Directorate General, Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes -- DoE Department of Environment -- EAC Environmental Appraisal Committee -- EIA Environmental Impact Assessment -- EPPRCA Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response to Chemical Accidents -- ERDMP Emergency Response and Disaster Management Plan -- HSM Hazardous Substances Management -- MAH Major Accident Hazardous -- MoEF Ministry of Environment and Forests -- MSIHC Manufacture, Storage, Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules -- NDMA National Disaster Management Authority -- NEFA National Environmental Protection Authority -- NEP National Environmental Policy -- OISD Oil India Safety Directorate -- PCPIR Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Regions -- PESO Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization -- PNGRB Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board -- SEZ Special Economic Zone -- SPCB State Pollution Control Board -- ToR Terms of Reference -- UTPCC Union Territory Pollution Control Committee; Chemical industries -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; 660.2804
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2015.12.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-4230

Abstract

Abstract: Due to rapid industrialization, with high population density and constraints of land, it is expected that level of risks arising from the hazardous industries will increase in India in the coming decades. However, 30 years after the Bhopal accident (1984), except a few discrete regulations, there is as yet no integrated system for assessing and managing risks arising out of these hazardous industries in India. The gravity of aspects related to the management of industrial risk still remains crucially important. In particular, there is no standard guideline on risk analysis methodology, acceptability or tolerability criteria, nor is there an accident database or a risk reduction strategy for the areas where risk levels are already high. On top of this, there are technical and legislative gaps in the institutional framework to implement any of the above mentioned issues. With the backdrop of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the objective of this paper is therefore to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive risk assessment framework for the emerging economy of India, in order to control and/or to reduce the risk level that exists. In this context, regulations and policies pertaining to industrial risk assessment were reviewed. Highlights: An overview of the current state-of-art for assessing industrial risk in India. Evaluation of existing regulatory, institutional and procedural framework. Identification of the shortcomings that can be bridged to make way for a safer society.