25 Years of LINK

25 Years of LINK The Major Events shaping the Period

Major Events
BRAIN, the first PC virus, starts to spread worldwide – January
Space Shuttle CHALLENGER explodes after launch – January
Swedish premier, Olaf Palme, assassinated in Stockholm – February
Hampton Court Palace fire – March
Nuclear power station explosion at Chernobyl – April
US bombing of Libya – April
PANAM aircraft hijacked at Karachi Airport – September
Chinook crash near Sumburgh – 43 from Brent Field killed – November
26 th April 1986 - Nuclear Power Station Explosion, Chernobyl A mishandled safety test in Reactor No 4 led to a catastrophic power increase and explosion in the core. Large quantities of radioactive fuel and core material released to atmosphere.
The Legacy:
Over 4000 deaths from explosion and subsequent radiation.
Radioactive fallout over Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, leading to resettlement of 350,000 away from contaminated areas.
Traces of radioactive deposits found in nearly every country in the northern hemisphere.
Long-term health issues remain for humans and animals.
1986

Major Events
Reagan challenges Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall - June
Tornado in Edmonton, Alberta. Hundreds left homeless - July
Black Monday: Stock market levels fall sharply on Wall Street - October
The King's Cross fire on the London Underground kills 31 - November
Worst in history peacetime sea disaster, passenger ferry Doña Paz sinks after colliding with the oil tanker in the Philippines, killing an over 4,000 people
6 th March, 1987 - Zeebrugge Disaster, Belgium Over 190 people died when the roll-on roll-off ferry, operated by Townsend Thoresen, capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, Belgium in March 1987.
The Legacy:
This was the worst maritime disaster involving a British registered ship in peacetime since 1919
Townsend Thoresen was severely criticised in the public inquiry report published later in 1987
In October 1987, an inquest jury returned verdicts of unlawful killing
The company was later charged with manslaughter
1987

Major Events
Record drought in N America kills 4000 to 17,800 and costs $60Bn – all year
Clapham Junction train crash - December
Ojhri Camp munitions explosion – Rawalpondi/Islamabad – April
Soviet withdrawal from Afganistan begins - May
Iran Air Flight 655 shot down by USS Vincennes – Strait of Hormuz - July
End of Iraq-Iran war– August
Hurricane Gilbert – Jamaica/Mexico - September
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed – Lockerbie - December
6 th July, 1988 – Piper Alpha, North Sea, UK Series of massive explosions results in total loss of Piper Alpha production platform, the most productive in the North Sea. 167 killed. 30 bodies never recovered. Only 59 survived.
The Legacy:
Psychological damage amongst survivors – at least one suicide and damaged families
Responsibility for oversight of safety offshore moved from Dept of Energy to HSE
Cullen Report introduces wide-ranging changes in construction, equipment, safety management, training and delegation of authority
Occidental Petroleum, although not prosecuted, no longer active in North Sea
1988

Major Events
Kegworth Air Disaster M1 East Midlands Airport UK- January
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Alaska USA - March
Hillsborough Football Supporters Disaster Sheffield UK - April
Tiananmen Square massacre Beijing China - June
Ufa train disaster due to Natural Gas Explosion Ufa Russia - June
Marchioness Pleasure Boat Collision – River Thames UK - August
Loma Prieta earthquake San Francisco USA - October
Cold War – Berlin Wall torn down Berlin Germany - November
24 th March, 1989 – Exxon Valdez, Alaska USA The Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef spilling up to 750,000 barrels of oil which covered 11,000 square miles and devastated wild life in the region.
The Legacy:
Reductions in population of various ocean animals and some shoreline habitats may take 30 years to recover
Exxon fined $287 million actual damages and $5 billion for punitive damages .
The Oil Pollution Act passed by congress which includes the phasing in of double hulled vessels by 2015.
Loaded tankers are now escorted by specially designed escort vessels
1989

Major Events
Trial of Exxon Valdez master – Anchorage - January
Nelson Mandela released – South Africa - February
Exxon indicted for Exxon Valdez oil spill – February
Germany wins soccer World Cup – Italy - July
Iraq invades Kuwait - August
Mikhail Gorbachev awarded Nobel peace prize - October
Channel Tunnel workers meet under Channel - December
31 st March 1990, – Poll Tax Riots, UK By far a largest series of mass disturbances that occurred in the UK against introduction of community charge (aka Poll Tax)
The Legacy:
Over 100 injured in worst riots for a century
70,000 took part; 340 arrests
Major looting/fire bombing
Led to downfall of PM Thatcher
Police riot tactics reappraised
Council Tax replaces Poll Tax
1990

Major Events
Orkney Stadium Disaster, South Africa - January
Kuwaiti Oil Fires, Persian Gulf - January / February
Mount Pinatuba Eruption, Philippines - March
The Bright Sparklers Fireworks Factory, Malaysia - May
Lauda Air Boeing 767 Crash, Bangkok - May
Major Earthquake, Kalabari, East of Timor Islands - July
Oakland Firestorm, California - October
Halloween Blizzard, Upper Mid West, USA - October/November
3 rd September, 1991 - Hamlet, North Carolina, USA 25 people died, 54 injured in a chicken processing factory fire. The escape doors were routinely locked. 3 previous non-fatal fires had brought no changes. There had been no safety inspections in 11 years
The Legacy:
The Company was fined the highest penalty in N.C. State history
The owner received 20 year jail sentence but served only four
N.C. State passed a number of Worker Safety laws, including a system whereby workers could report concerns without fear of job loss
The number of safety inspectors in North Carolina were increased from 60 to 114
1991

Major Events
Iraq disarmament crisis- February
Turkey coal mine disaster - March
Fergana Valley Oil Spill ( 285,000 t) - March
UK General Election, Tories elected - April
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed - April
Pound & Euro out of European Exchange Rate mechanism- September
Allied Colloids fire - July
US Presidential Election, Bill Clinton wins - November
18 th February , 1992 – Disarmament Crisis, Iraq US demands to end production of weapons of mass destruction. Demand for unfettered inspections to take place. US begins military build up in the Gulf Region
The Legacy:
UN pressure to bring Iraq to compliance causes diplomatic crisis in UN
Inspectors visit sites and find no weapons of mass destruction.
US president declares intention to use military force in Iraq
Several close allies opposed military intervention
Millions of people participate in peace marches
1992

Major Events
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia - January
European Community instigates single market - January
MV Braer runs aground on Shetland Islands - January
Bill Clinton becomes US President - January
World Trade Centre bombing - February
Bombay bombings- March
Warrington bomb attack - March
Maastricht Treaty takes effect - November
26 th February, 1993 – World Trade Centre Blast Massive truck bomb detonated below North Tower in New York
The Legacy:
1500 lb bomb intended to collapse North Tower into South Tower killing thousands
Attempt failed but seven died
1042 injured, six men convicted
In the wake of the bombing, and the chaotic evacuation which followed, the World Trade Center and many of the firms inside it, revamped emergency procedures, particularly with regard to evacuation of the tower
1993

Major Events
Earthquake, Northridge California - January
Genocide, Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of Tutsi killed - April
China Airlines Airbus A300 crashes in Nagoya killing 264 people - April
The Channel Tunnel opens - May
Sarin Gas attack, Matsumoto, Japan. 7 dead, 600 injured - June
Chinook crash over Mull of Kintyre - June
US Air Boeing 737 crashes in Pittsburgh killing 132 people - September
MS Estonia capsizes in the Baltic Sea killing 852 people - September
28 th September 1994 – Ship Capsize, Baltic Sea The Estonian registered Ro Ro ferry the MS Estonia capsized on route from Tallinn, Estonia to Stockholm resulting in the loss of 852 lives.
The Legacy:
Improved alarm systems for bow doors
Improved dissemination of incident data
Improved guidelines and limits for manoeuvring in heavy weather
Clear instructions given to Ro Ro crews on maximising chances of survival in cases of water ingress to the car deck
Re-assessment of vessels to increase the time available for evacuation
1994

Major Events
Great Hanshin earthquake - Kobe, Japan- January.
Clinton loans $20b to Mexico – January. Prevents financial collapse.
Barings Bank collapsed, UK’s oldest Investment Bank- February
Sarin Gas attack – Tokyo subway – March.
Federal Building bombed - Oklahoma City – April
Shell decide NOT to sink Brent Spar – North Atlantic - June
Dept Store collapsed - Seoul, S Korea – June.
Metro Fire – Baku, Azerbaijan – October
20 th June 1995 – Brent Spar Oil Storage Buoy, North Atlantic Shell caves in to international environmental, social, economic and political pressure and abandons plans to sink the Brent Spar oil rig in deep Atlantic water 250km W of Scotland.
The Legacy:
Greenpeace organized a worldwide, high-profile media campaign against Shell’s plan.
Shell abandoned its plans to dispose of Brent Spar at sea. Cut-up rig sections were eventually used in harbour extensions at Stavanger, Norway in 1998.
Greenpeace later quietly admitted they had made assessment errors, and that sinking would have been the best option
1995

Major Events
IRA ceasefire ends with half-tonne bomb in Canary Wharf– February
Sea Empress, spills 73,000 tonnes of crude, Welsh coast – February
IRA Bomb Manchester , UK – June
Dolly the Sheep is successfully cloned, Scotland – July
Hurricane Bertha causes $270 m in damage, North Carolina USA - July
Outbreak of E.coli kills 6000, Japan – July
Centennial Olympic Park Summer Olympics Bombing, Atlanta – July
Channel Tunnel HGV train fire, English Channel – November
15 th February, 1996 - Sea Empress Disaster, Wales The disaster occurred in Britain’s only coastal national park . 73,000 tonnes of crude oil polluted 200km of a coastline internationally famed for its wildlife and beauty
The Legacy:
Milford Haven Port Authority was fined £4m after pleading guilty to the offence of causing pollution in 1999. (Later reduced)
Devastating effect on the fishing industry.
Claims from local businesses reached 34m
It took 10 years for the balance of the ecology to recover
The UK subsequently played a leading role in securing an international agreement to phase out single hull oil tankers.
1996

Major Events
Bill Clinton inaugurated for second term – January
Divorce becomes legal in Republic of Ireland – February
Omaria massacre in Algeria – April
House of Commons votes for handgun ban – June
Woolworths closes after 117 years – July
Korean Air flight 801 crash in Guam – August
Diana Princess of Wales dies – August
Kyoto Protocol adopted – December
11 th December, 1997 - Kyoto Protocol Adopted The Protocol is launched aimed at fighting global warming with the goal of achieving stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations
The Legacy:
Stabilisation of greenhouse gases
Minimising impacts on developing countries
United States did not sign the treaty
Developed countries have to pay billions of dollars
Agreement on reduction of emissions
Penalties agreed for non-compliance
Many economists think that the commitments are stronger than is justified
1997

Major Events
NATO Aircraft flies into Ski Cablecar – Italy - February
China Airlines flight crashes into residential area – Taiwan – February
66 day Power Blackout – Auckland New Zealand – February
Heavy Metal Waste reservoir ruptures into river – Spain – April
US embassy bombings, Kenya - August
Yangtse River floods kill > 12,000 – China – August
Swissair Flight 111 from New York crashes into sea - Canada – September
18 th October 1998 Jesse, Niger Delta, Nigeria 1082 die as result of Petroleum Pipeline Explosion. Pipeline owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation who claimed that disaster due to scavengers rupturing line to obtain fuel
The Legacy:
Fire burned for 5 days and then extinguished by US firm using Nitrogen-rich foam
Many people were too badly burned for identification and were buried in mass graves
This was the first and the worst incident of many similar incidents in Southern Nigeria
Nigerian President promised aid to help prevent recurrence
1998

Major Events
Earthquake, Colombia – January
Fire, Mont Blanc tunnel, France – March
Kosovo air strikes, NATO intervention – March
J18 Anti-globalization riots, London – June
Invasion by Chechen guerrillas, Dagestan, Russia – August
Uranium exposure, Tokaimura nuclear plant, Japan – September
World population reaches 6 billion – October
Earthquake, Duzce, Turkey – November
5 th October, 1999 - Ladbroke Grove Rail Crash, London 31 people were killed and 520 injured when two trains collided at a combined closing speed of 130 mph during the morning rush hour.
The Legacy:
HSE and HM Railway Inspectorate criticized for inspection procedures
Rail Safety & Standards Board formed 2003
Thames Trains fined £2 million for violations of H&S law 2004
Responsibility for regulation of H&S on the railways passed to the Office of Rail Regulation 2006
Network Rail fined £4 million 2007 in breach of H&SAW Act 1974
1999

Major Events
Phillips Petroleum Chemical Plant explodes at Pasadena, USA – March
Microsoft guilty of breaking US Anti-trust Regulations in the USA – April
Leaking pipeline in Nigeria kills 250 villagers –-July
Air France Concorde crashes after take off from Paris – July
Russian submarine Kursk sinks in the Barents Sea – August
Demonstrators block fuel storage sites in the UK – September
United States Navy Destroyer USS Cole was attacked by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers in Aden Port Yemen – October
25 th July, 2000 – Crash of Concorde Flight 4590, Paris The crash killed 109 passengers and crew. Four people were killed on the ground. The beginning of the end for Concorde.
The Legacy:
Modifications made to Concorde but it was taken out of service in 2003
Criminal investigation of Continental Airlines started on 10th March 2005
On 12 th March 2008 manslaughter charges were made against the airline and 4 people
Following trial Continental Airlines were found criminally responsible.
An employee was given a 15 month suspended prison sentence. All subject to an appeal process.
2000

Major Events
Foot and Mouth crisis hits UK – February
Slobodan Milosovic surrenders to police – March
Tropical Storm Alison causes $5bn damage in US – June
US terrorist attacks – September
Explosion at fertiliser plant on Toulouse kills 31 – September
China admitted to World Trade Organisation – November
American Airlines Flight crashes on take off - JFK Airport – November
Enron files for bankruptcy protection – December
11 th September, 2001 - USA Terrorist Attacks 2001 Almost 3000 are killed during attacks on World Trade Centre, The Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Al Qaeda hijacked airliners and flew them into buildings
The Legacy:
836 responders died
War on Terror announced by US
American Stock exchanges stayed closed for a week
Many aircraft grounded across the world
US airspace closed
Rapid orders issued to look for Iraqi involvement
US presidents approval rating soared 90%

1 st March, 2002 – Coalition Invasion Of Afghanistan 2002
Major Events
Euro Notes issued across Europe - January
Ex currencies of Euro Nations now illegal - February
US invasion of Afghanistan - March
China Airlines flight crashes in Taiwan Strait - April
European Floods ravage Europe - August
Iraq war resolution ratified by US Congress - October
United Airlines files for bankruptcy
The Legacy:
Aftermath of 9/11 attacks
Thousands killed, many of which are civilians
Aimed at smothering insurgency
Local population resorted to suicide bombings
Bonn Agreement created, intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan
UK, Canada and Australia also deployed forces
Coalition invades Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks, to try to capture Osama Bin Laden and eradicate al Qaeda. Initial attack removed Taliban from power

Major Events
Space Shuttle Columbia explodes on return to earth – February
SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and Vietnam – March
Earthquake in Algeria kills 2,000 – May
Heat wave in France kills 10,000 – August
Major power outage in US and Canadian cities – August
Terrorist bombings on HSBC and British Consulate in Istanbul – November
Earthquake in Bam, Iran kills 28,000 – December
13 th March, 2003 – SARS Coronavirus
Legacy
Inadequate surge capacity in hospitals & public health systems has been a major problem. Health care workers have themselves been victims of the disease and are the frontline troops at risk.
The SARS experience has shown once again the power of a poorly understood new infectious disease to incite widespread public anxiety. The fear of SARS spread faster than the virus, causing great social unease, economic losses, and some political changes
2003 SARS is the first severe and easily transmissible new disease to emerge in the 21 st century. It was first carried out into the world at large on 21 February, when an infected medical doctor from Guangdong checked into the Metropole Hotel in Hong Kong.

Major Events
Train carrying fuel and chemicals explodes in Iran killing 320 – Feb
Terrorist bombs on rush-hour trains in Madrid kill 191 - March
Train crash in N Korea (explosives and fuel) kills 161 - April
Air traffic control computer failure grounds flights in UK - June
Severe flooding at Boscastle, Cornwall - August
Hurricane Ivan kills 92 in Caribbean and US - September
Coal mine explosion kills over 150 in China - November
Tsunami in Indian Ocean - December
26 th December, 2004 – Tsunami, Indian Ocean Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake off Indonesia resulted in the deaths of over 230,000 people in 14 countries in SE Asia, South Asia and Africa
The Legacy:
Damage totaling US$10 billion
Thousands of villages washed away, entire coastal zones and ecosystems destroyed
Creation of high-tech early warning systems
Emphasised need for governments to incorporate disaster risk reduction measures in national plans
Better coordination of international aid activities for major natural disasters
2004

11 th December, 2005 – Buncefield Petrol Explosion and fire The largest fire in Europe since the second world war occurred when a vapour cloud ignited at the Buncefield storage facility in Hertfordshire. Much damage to neighbouring property The Legacy: 2005
The Legacy:
Over 1000 firefighters attended and over 37km of large diameter hose used. Command coordination was a big issue
Firewater run off caused huge environmental impact
Provision of foam stocks was a huge issue due to amount required
Business continuity problems fro neighbouring businesses
Plume prediction was a big issue to forecast landing and health and safety issues
Major Events
George W Bush inaugurated as president of US - January
Kyoto Protocol comes into effect - February
Texas City Refinery explosion - March
London bombings (7/7) - July
Bali bombings - October
Kashmiri earthquake - October
Trials of Saddam Hussein begin - October
European Union launched - December

Major Events
Russia closes gas pipeline to Ukraine – January
Mudslide in Philippines kills 1100 people – February
April: first case of UK Avian Flu (in swan) identified – April
Java earthquake kills 6,000, injures 36,000 – May
Heatwave in Western Europe kills 1300+ people – June/July
Probo Koala dumps waste at Ivory coast, 40,000 made ill – August
Google buys YouTube for £880 million – October
Fuel pipeline at Lagos explodes, killing over 250 people – December
August 2006 – Probo Koala , Abidjan, Ivory Coast 40,000 people affected by fumes when 500 tonnes ship’s slops illegally dumped in lagoons. Discharge of slops stopped in Amsterdam earlier in voyage
The Legacy:
Greenpeace blockade ship in Estonia, warns of “toxic waste colonialism”
Company directors arrested in Abidjan: released in Feb. 07, after payment of €150million
BBC issues apology over Newsnight reports
Payment of £30million to 29,000 claimants. Legal fees £105 million, plus £14million in-company
Shipper fined €1million by Dutch court
2006

Major Events
Burnley Tunnel Fire, Australia - March
Glasgow Airport Terrorist Attack – June
National flooding - June
Ukraine mine disaster kills 101 miners – November
T2 Laboratories runaway chemical reaction Jacksonville Florida kills 4 and injures 32 - December
23 rd February, 2007 - Pendolino crash, Greyriggs Cumbria Train derailed at 96 mph on a bendy section of track Remarkably only one person died This was due to the crash worthiness of the rolling stock
The Legacy:
Demonstrated issues other than operational management control that influence outcomes
Justified use of quantified risk assessment and cost benefit analysis
Showed how advances in the construction of the rolling stock had reduced the propensity of high speed rail accident to inflict fatalities
2007

Major Events
Extreme snowstorm kills 133 and disrupt supply chains, China - January
'Improper Payments' End Bridgestone Marine Hose Unit, Global – Feb
Northern Rock Bank Nationalised, UK - February
133,000 killed in Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar - May
Political crisis and street riots, Thailand - September
Three banks taken under government control, Iceland - October
Barrack Obama elected 44 th President, United States - November
Series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India - November
15 th September, 2008 – Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy, US The world’s largest bankruptcy ($691bn) more than 10 times that of Enron in 2001, began a global domino effect of financial failures and government rescues.
The Legacy:
The concept of contagion inside firms and inside systems became widely used
The role of regulation and the need for systemic regulation to understand shared vulnerabilities is highlighted and reformed
Debate over making big banks failsafe or slim enough to ‘fail safely’
Understand the role of testing inter-relationships between businesses and the concept of ‘stress testing’
2008

Major Events
Russia Shuts off gas supplies to Europe – January
Barack Obama inaugurated as US president - January
Deadliest bushfires in Australian history – February
Air France Flight 447 crashes off Brazil – June
Michael Jackson dies - June
Longest total eclipse of 21 st century - July
Typhoon Morakot hits Taiwan killing 500 - August
7.6 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra kills 1000 - September
Treaty of Lisbon comes into force - December
7 th January, 2009 – Russia Shuts Off Gas Supplies To Europe Crisis began on not being able to reach agreement on gas prices for 2009. Russia demanded full payment of debt from Ukraine. Payment not made, supplies to Ukraine/Europe were cut on 7 th January
The Legacy:
Gas supplies flowing through Ukraine cut
European countries subsequently lost gas supplies
Request for European Union to become involved
International conference in Moscow failed to resolve problems
Irreparable & irreversible damage to customers confidence in Russia and Ukraine – no longer regarded as reliable partners
2009

Major Events
Haiti earthquake – January
Polish president killed in air crash – April
Volcanic ash cloud creates air travel chaos – April
Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire and oil spill - April
Major protests in Thailand – May
Wikileaks leaks secrets to public – July
Miners trapped in Chilean mine
Escalated tensions between North and South Korea - November
Toxic Sludge at Ajka Aluminum plant in Hungary - October
20 th April, 2010 - Macondo Well Gulf of Mexico 11 people died and 17 injured when explosion and fire ripped through the Deepwater Horizion. 4.9 million barrels of oil released before well capped in September.
The Legacy:
Damage to marine and wildlife habitats
Fishing and tourism industries badly hit
Undersea plumes decimated sea bed life in some areas
BP had to sell assets to pay the cost of clean up etc
Thousands of claims for loss of trade etc
Law suits pending
CEO loses job
2010

Major Events
Anti-government protest result in Tunisian President fleeing – January
Egyptian President steps down following huge protests – February
8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan - March
NATO air strikes begin in Libya to protect civilians – March
Osama bin Laden killed in Pakistan – May
Chile's Puyehue volcano eruption causes international disruption – June
Famine declared in southern Somalia – July
Final Space Shuttle flight lands at Kennedy Space Centre, USA – July
UK tabloid The News of the World closed amid hacking scandal - July
11 th March, 2011 – Fukushima Nuclear Accident, Japan Damage to safety systems after the earthquake and tsunami caused a series of explosions and release of radiation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.
The Legacy:
Response beyond scope of plant owner - Government assistance essential
National electricity shortages because two-thirds of Japans nuclear reactors offline.
Questions over global nuclear energy safety
About 80,000 people living with 20km of the Fukushima plant have been forced to abandon their homes.
Tepco president quits as firm reports $15bn loss
2011

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25 Years of LINK

by LINK Associates International on Sep 20, 2011

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25 Years of LINK — Presentation Transcript