In the Flixborough case, what was a major cause of fatalities?

The collapse of the control room roof was a major cause of fatalities in the Flixborough case because it trapped personnel inside the control room during the catastrophic explosion. The incident took place in 1974 at the Flixborough chemical plant in the UK when a reactor failed, leading to a massive explosion. As a result of the explosion, not only did significant damage occur to the facilities, but the structural integrity of the control room was compromised.

This collapse prevented personnel from escaping to safety and contributed significantly to the loss of life. The nature of the explosion, combined with the critical location and vulnerability of the control room, underscored the catastrophic consequences of inadequate safety measures and design flaws in the facility. Understanding this context highlights the critical importance of structural safety in chemical plant design and emergency planning.