Organisational and human factors Archives - Page 10 of 31 - La référence du retour d'expérience sur accidents technologiques

Accidental generation of chlorine in a chemical industry

05/10/2007
ALLEMAGNE

A cloud of chlorine gas was accidentally generated around 10.30 am while transferring hydrochloric acid (HCl) into a tank containing sodium hypochlorite (NaClO or liquid bleach) in a chemical wholesale company. The accident happened during a period of rebuilding of[...]

Sudden degassing of a road tanker in a special waste treatment centre

31/07/2007
FRANCE

At an industrial waste treatment centre, a pressure surge due to the decomposition of wastes contained inside a tanker truck accepted into the site broke the manhole lid on the backside of the tanker, which abruptly discharged its gaseous contents.[...]

Fire in a food manufacturing plant

30/07/2007
FRANCE

A fire broke out at around 2.00 am in a 10,000 m² cake and confectionery manufacturing plant. The video surveillance company informed the maintenance manager. Around hundred fire-fighters arrived onsite with 27 fire engines. The fire-fighters cut off the gas[...]

Sinking of a twin-deck floating roof of crude oil tank

18/07/2007
FRANCE

The sinking of a double-deck floating roof on the 70-m diameter B962 tank containing over 62,200 m³ of crude oil was detected on July 18, 2007 in a refinery. No product had been transferred from this tank since July 2,[...]

Leakage on a pipeline and water pollution

23/03/2007
BIELORUSSIE

In Belarus, a leak was detected in a 377 mm diameter pipeline carrying gas oil causing 120 tonnes of hydrocarbons to be spilled in the DAUGAVA river for 5 hours. The emergency services contained the most of the gas oil[...]

Breakage of an oil tank

12/01/2007
FRANCE

The bottom of a 13,500 m³ containing 12,000 m³ of light crude oil tank ripped open at 8:00 am within an oil depot. The earthen dikes surrounding the retention basin withstood the wave effect; 2,000 m³ of oil still overflowed[...]

Release of sulphur dioxide in a cellulose factory

16/08/2006
ALLEMAGNE

In a cellulose manufacturing plant, sulphur dioxide leaked following a loss of air tightness of a cover of a reactor. Cellulose is manufactured in a process where wood chips are heated in a vessel containing sulphuric acid and sulphur dioxide.[...]

Fire on a burning area in a pyrotechnic plant

28/07/2006
FRANCE

In a company dedicated to producing hunting ammunition, fire broke out on a pyrotechnic waste burning zone, on a day when the production facility was closed for annual holidays. A single entrance provided access to this excavated (50 x 30[...]

Explosions in a chemical plant

01/06/2006
ROYAUME-UNI

A little after midnight, an extremely flammable gas leak occurred in the ammonium manufacturing unit of a chemical plant manufacturing nitrogen fertilisers. The gas, mainly, consisting of hydrogen, escaped from a valve. Released at 220 bar and 120°C, it ignited[...]

Explosion in an iron foundry during cupola unloading

15/05/2006
FRANCE

In a cast iron foundry that alternates the use of two cupola furnaces every other day, an explosion occurred at 6.30 pm during furnace unloading (carried out via hatches placed underneath the furnace) of meltdown products into a tub. Coke,[...]