(52f) Analysis of Ndk Crystal Inc. Explosion with Offsite Fatality--a Chemical Safety Board Report

Throughout history, several key events in the Chemical Process Industry have occurred that have altered the approach to promoting a safe environment for employees and the public. Historic disasters such as the vapor cloud explosion in Flixborough, England in 1974, the toxic release in Seveso, Italy in 1976, and the toxic release in Bhopal, India in 1984 caused thousands of deaths alone, and, consequently, awakened the realization that the mitigation of industrial hazards is necessary to preserve society. In the current study, an explosion at Nihon Dempa Kogyo (NDK), a facility located in Belvidere, Illinois manufacturing synthetic quartz in 2009, is examined for its root causes and consequences. Further, an analysis of this explosion will conclude with recommendations for how the Chemical Process Industry can recognize and prevent such disasters in the future.