Dispelling chemical industry myths

Kletz, Trevor A.

• Part 1: myths about technology; pressure vessels must be fitted with relief valves (or bursting discs); if a vessel is exposed to fire, it should be emptied as quickly as possible; accidents are due to human failing, so we should eliminate the human element when we can; if a flammable material has a high flashpoint, it is safe and will not explode; blast walls provide the ultimate protection against explosions; we can remove hazards; the public believe we are making the world a better place; fire is worse than smoke; accidents are due to a coincidence of unlikely events; computers introduce new problems; the most valuable writings on safety are codes and standards. Part 2: myths about management; engineers should respond to market needs; many questions can be answered by substituting numbers in well-established equations; policies lead to action; treating employees, customers and suppliers well is good business in the long run; stress is a major cause of ill-health today. Part 3: myths about toxicology and the environment; we should look for the effects of substances that have not yet been studied; the causes of cancer are environmental; scientists should be held responsible for the results of their actions; we should recycle whenever possible; entropy is increasing all the time; myths in other walks of life; afterthoughts.