• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2008

Chemical Accident Response Information System (CARIS) which has been designed for the efficient emergency response of chemical accidents produces the real-time atmospheric fields through the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System, RAMS. The previous studies were emphasized that improving an initial input data had more effective results in developing prediction ability of atmospheric model. In a continuous effort to improve an initial input data, we replaced the land-use dataset using in the RAMS, which is a high resolution USGS digital data constructed in April, 1993, with the latest land-use data of the Korea Ministry of Environment over the South Korea and simulated atmospheric fields for developing a real-time prediction in dispersion of chemicals. The results showed that the new land-use data was written in a standard RAMS format and shown the modified surface characteristics and the landscape heterogeneity resulting from land-use change. In the results of sensitivity experiment we got the improved atmospheric fields and assured that it will give more reliable real-time atmospheric fields to all users of CARIS for the dispersion forecast in associated with hazardous chemical releases as well as general air pollutants.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

In the trend of increasing awareness of chemical accidents, hazardous chemical transport vehicle accidents are occurring every year. In this study, we analyzed improvement of accident prevention and countermeasures through statistical analysis of hazardous chemical transport vehicle accidents. A total of 383 chemical accidents between January 2014 and December 2017 were analyzed. During this period, number of transportation accidents was 83 cases, accounting for 21.67% of total chemical accidents. In the current system, despite the direct handling of hazardous chemical, it is out of regulation of damage prediction unlike the workplace. In order to effectively respond to actual accident, information on damage prediction is required and should be shared with related ministry. And it should be developed to real-time monitoring of hazardous chemical transport vehicle through integrated control tower.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.465-473
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• 2019

Objectives: A variety of industries handling hazardous chemicals emit odorous substances. Based on the emission characteristics of major odor substances from the results of hazardous chemical substance emissions, we will define basic data for improving the management methods of odorous substances. Methods: A survey of hazardous pollutant emissions for 2010-2016 was conducted through the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. Eight kinds of designated odor substances (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, acetaldehyde, styrene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone) provided the study subjects. The status of chemical accidents for the target substances was analyzed using the Chemistry Safety Clearing-house system. Results: From 2010 to 2016, it was found that more than 30% of businesses that emitted odorous substances accounted for more than 50% of the total emissions of the eight substances. Emissions of xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ammonia were found, in that order, and they made up more than 90% of the total emitted. By region, about 70% of odorous substances were emitted in the top-four regions: Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Ulsan, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Jeollanam-do Province. Conclusion: Recently, the amount of chemical emissions has been continuously increasing, including those that can cause odor. Odorous substances can be a serious risk to the lives of local residents. Systematic research is needed for the health protection of residents.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide the effective safety management system to prevent similar chemical accidents through accident investigations. Method: Chemical accident prevention and response management systems at the central and local government levels were reviewed, Also, statistical data of chemical accidents occurred in the last 5 years were analyzed. In particular, Two accidents with high accident risk were analyzed. Result: Chemical accidents that have occurred in the last 5 years were analyzed to occur in the order of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, and concrete safety management improvement measures were derived through investigations of two causes. Conclusion: In this study, we proposed safety management plans in terms of technical and management aspects. The results of this study are expected to be used as effective in preventing and managing chemical accidents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.346-354
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• 2023

Objectives: Chemical accidents cause extensive human and environmental damage. Therefore, it is important to prepare measures to prevent their recurrence and minimize future damage through accident investigation. To this end, it is necessary to identify the accident occurrence process and analyze the extent of damage. In this study, the development process and damage range of actual chemical leakage accidents were analyzed using CFD. Methods: For application to actual chemical leakage accidents using FLACS codes specialized for chemical dispersion simulation among CFD codes, release rate calculation and 3D geometry were created, and scenarios for simulation were derived. Results: The development process of the accident and the dispersion behavior of materials were analyzed considering the influencing factors at the time of the accident. In addition, to confirm the validity of the results, we compared the results of the actual damage impact investigation and the simulation analysis results. As a result, both showed similar damage impact ranges. Conclusions: The FLACS code allows the detailed analysis of the simulated dispersion process and concentration of substances similar to real ones. Therefore, it is judged that the analysis method using CFD simulation can be usefully applied as a chemical accident investigation technique.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2017

301 cases of chemical accidents occurred during the recent three years('13~15) recording about 100cases on average in Korea.. Chemical accidents has brought casualties and negative impact on the environment. The chemical accident by transporting vehicles during recent 3 years records 21 on average & takes about 21% of the whole chemical accident. Systematic investigation on chemical accident was needed by corresponding authorities since the transport accident has occurred on the road, all over the nation. For the systematic investigation on the accident scene by the corresponding authorities, the cooperation of transport companies and transport contractor is highly necessary. The investigation of such accident scene was examined and analyzed in this study. Through this study, the results can be basis to analyzed the cause of chemical accident by transporting vehicles and to prepare procedures for on-site investigation and handling systematically.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2018

Objectives: Despite the positive effects of Off-site risk assessment (ORA) system such as prevention of chemical accidents, some problems have been constantly raised. The purpose of this study is to analyze the problems that have occurred through the implementation of the ORA system for the past three years and to suggest reasonable directions for improvement in the future. Methods: In order to identify the problems with the methodology and procedure of ORA system, we analyzed statutes, administrative rules and documents related to the ORA system. A survey of ORA reviewers in National Institute of Chemical Safety was conducted to investigate the weight of determinants considered when judging the level of total risk in ORA. Results: In this study, we found out the uncertainty of the estimation of the number of people in the impact range in the procedure of the risk assessment of individual handling facilities, the lack of quantitative risk analysis methods for environmental receptors, and the ambiguity of the criteria for the total risk. In addition to suggesting solutions to the problems mentioned above, we also, suggested a decision tree for total risk in ORA. Conclusion: We anticipate that the solutions including the systematic decision tree for total risk suggested will contribute to the smooth operation of the ORA system.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2008

The systematic information management of chemical accidents is required as a tool for the policy making, system improvement and release of information. However, there isn't yet a systematic chemical accidents tracking system in Korea, which make a confusion that the related statistics are different from each others. In this research, we analyzed domestic and international chemical accidents data and made the chemical accident codes for the information tracking system properly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.757-763
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• 2023

Major industrial accidents in which workers die due to fires or explosions while working at chemical substance handling workplaces continue to occur. Among the major industrial accidents that occurred between 2005 and 2021, the accident status by work situation and equipment was analyzed. Through analysis, it was confirmed that storage, reaction, and piping facilities were the main causes of the accident, and a self-checklist for each facility was developed. Verification was conducted through the supply and use groups to evaluate the suitability of the use, duties, and items of the self-checklist. The user group showed higher satisfaction than the supplier group for all three suitability of use, job, and item. In particular, since the inspection items of the self-checklist were organized around the cause of the accident derived through the analysis of actual accident cases, the satisfaction level was high in all groups. It is expected that the self-checklist developed through this study will be useful not only for large companies but also for small and medium-sized chemical industries that lack professional manpower.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes among the nine kinds of reduction chemical substances in Korea over the period of 2008-2017. We will define basic data for improving the management methods for reducing chemical substances. Methods: A survey of hazardous pollutant emissions for 2008-2017 was conducted through the pollutant Release and Transfer Register homepage. Nine kinds of designated reduction chemical substances (Benzene, Vinyl chloride, Trichloro ethylene, 1,3-butadiene, Dichloro methane, Tetrachloro ethylene, N,N-dimethylformamide, Acrylo nitrile, and Chloroform) provided the study subjects. The emission of hazardous chemicals and health effects used the National Health Statistics and Integrated Chemicals Information System (ICIS) as a reference. Results: Hazardous pollutant emissions increased by 1.2 times over the past decade, and nine types of reduction chemical substances increased by 1.6 times. By region, the emissions of reduction chemical substances over the last 10 years were in the order of Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, and Gyeongbuk. Emissions of Dichloro methane was the highest in Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk. N,N-dimethylformamide was the highest in Gyeonggi. Carcinogen pollutant emissions showed a tendency to increase continuously. In addition, group 1 carcinogen emissions showed a tendency to decrease. Conclusion: In the last decade, the amount of hazardous chemical emissions has been continuously increasing. Hazardous chemical emissions require facility improvement for continuous emissions reduction. More research on reduction of emissions is needed.