Sector teachings Archives - Page 3 of 11 - La référence du retour d'expérience sur accidents technologiques

Used lithium batteries are not ordinary waste!

13/11/2018

The performance of lithium batteries and storage cells has expanded their areas of technical application (telephony, computers, electric vehicles, rechargeable hybrids and electric bicycles). This development is now resulting in an increase in the number of batteries and storage cells[...]

Methanization: how can the sector be developed without increasing the risks?

04/10/2018

Methanization is one of the key technologies of the circular economy and green growth. Within the framework of the Energy Transition Act, France has set itself the target of ensuring that 10% of the gas it consumes will originate from[...]

Mobile acetylene cylinders : Hazard potential not to be underestimated!

01/08/2018

Mobile acetylene cylinders are present in all sectors of activity owing to their common use on welding machines. Even if they look like risk free, these cylinders are real hazard potential ! Five major accidents in France since the beginning of[...]

Video “From incident to media crisis”

15/06/2018

How does a technically insignificant incident turn into a media frenzy? This new film, produced by the BARPI, explains the sequence of malfunctions that led to the release of a highly olfactory component. A timeline presents how the media crisis[...]

Fires in waste composting activities

24/05/2018

The relative increase in disposal costs and regulatory requirements (an overall reduction in landfilling by 2025, and sorting at source of bio-waste) allow composting activities to continue to grow in France. This development is highly beneficial from an environmental standpoint,[...]

Explosion under a bridge deck following a fire which caused a gas leak

13/05/2018
FRANCE

At around 8:55 p.m., a natural gas explosion (vapour cloud explosion - VCE) occurred on a bridge pier containing a polyethylene natural gas pipeline (DN125) passing through a stainless steel sheath, and a steel pipeline (DN 114). A fire had initially broken[...]

Beware of smoke from fire!

24/04/2018

Whether white (rich in aerosols or water vapour), grey (a mixture of aerosols and solid particles) or black (large solid particles), the smoke released from fires presents several risks. Beyond death from intoxication, fumes are a potential health hazard owing[...]

Pallet fire in a combustible materials warehouse

24/04/2018
FRANCE

A fire broke out at 10:15 am in a warehouse subject to authorization (item 1510 of the nomenclature of the French classified installations) at an external storage of wooden pallets. Employees are evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters. The[...]

Runaway reactions, case studies, lessons learned

20/11/2017

Runaway reactions are a major source of industrial accidents. They can occur in a wide array of sectors, including chemicals, petrochemicals, food processing, plastics and rubber manufacturing, and metalworking and are primarily caused by a loss of process control. The[...]

Large-scale fire in a wood chip storage facility

21/08/2017
FRANCE

At around 3○a.m., a deep-seated fire broke out in an outdoor 50,000○m3 woodchip storage in a waste recycling facility (24○m high, located on the facility's property line). White smoke was emitted above the urban zone and the highway. Access to[...]