The fatal consequence of hope

摘要

A chemical producer's failure to appreciate the magnitude of risks involved in two activities using titanium tetrachloride has cost it ￡3 million in fines, amounting to 50.2% of its most recent pre-tax profits. In the first incident, a vessel exploded and sent a toxic vapour cloud 30 metres into the air, killing one worker and leaving another with life-changing lung damage. Just 16 months later, a disused vessel storing the chemical ruptured during a poorly planned cleaning procedure.