Chapter 9 - Poor Communication

Abstract

This chapter highlights that the immediate cause of the incident in most of the cases is poor communications. When an accident occurs in the process industries, this is the result of inadequate testing, the need for which is well known. The chapter discusses errors because of the delivery of wrong material, packaged deals, “draftsmen's delusions,” and too much communication. An example of the narrow communication is that, a chemical company ordered a load of epichlorohydrin, a toxic and flammable chemical, from a supply agent and not from the manufacturer. A transport company collected the chemical from the manufacturer and changed the delivery note to one bearing the name of the agent. The man who did so made a slip and entered the number of the wrong tank container, one containing sodium chlorite. This container was therefore, delivered to the company and offloaded into the epichlorohydrin tank. A violent reaction and explosion occurred, several people were injured, and large amounts of fume and smoke led to the closure of main roads and a major river crossing. Fines and costs amounting to $150,000 were imposed on the company for not testing the material before offloading it and on the transport company for delivering the wrong material.