Chemical Industry Accidents, Liability, and Community Right to Know

Authors

Michael S. Baram, Boston University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1986

ISSN

0090-0036

Publisher

American Public Health Association

Language

en-US

Abstract

The Bhopal, India tragedy and other industrial accidents (e.g., Seveso, Flixborough, Mexico City, Institute, WV) have frightened the citizens of developed and undeveloped countries. These accidents, along with numerous hazardous waste problems, have led to a dramatic loss of public confidence in chemical industry management and their safety experts. The occurrence of such accidents also provides vivid evidence of the serious gap between government legislative promises and government performance in the actual control of industrial hazards.'

As a result, persons who believe they have been injured or put at risk by industry are now using tort law to secure private remedies in the courts, and seeking increased information on industrial hazards from companies and agencies to develop new risk reduction measures. This public shift away from passive reliance on industry and government for protection to self-help strategies is most discernible in the United States, but is also taking place in the European Community.

Recommended Citation

Michael S. Baram, Chemical Industry Accidents, Liability, and Community Right to Know , 76 American Journal of Public Health 568 (1986).
Available at: https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.76.5.568