In the cyanhydric acid (HCN) synthesis workshop at a chemical plant manufacturing adiponitrile, a purification column was being cleaned by introducing air to bleed the cyanhydric acid contained inside, with the residual gaseous mix then being burned in a boiler.[...]
At a chemical plant around 8:40 pm, 71 kg of sulphur dichloride (SCl2) were unloaded during a substance transfer operation. The SCl2 was transferred from the steel, nitrogen-inerted container into a tank. This container was connected by a hose to[...]
In the 15th district in Paris, 8 cases of group contamination with legionellosis were detected on 1 September while the first symptoms were identified as early as 8 August. One patient died. The media pressure rose rapidly. The results of[...]
The lower part of a waste feed chute on a furnace (capacity: 28 tonnes/hr) at an incineration plant exploded. A technician was violently thrown and sustained serious injuries. Water under 3 bar of pressure cooled the base of the chute,[...]
A 34,000-tonne inventory of bone meal under a hangar awaiting destruction began to heat. A passerby noticed a glow and notified the site watchman. A response covering a few m² with a powder extinguisher halted the phenomenon. The characteristics of[...]
A tank undergoing cleaning exploded after a 15-day production run. Along with a damaged drum dryer, the tank had been collecting washing water with an excess concentration of 2'-azobis (2 methylbutyronitrile) - AIVN (a by-product of hydrazine hydrate). In anticipating[...]
A chlorine leak occurred when degassing a sprayer during production downtime at the end of a campaign on a chemical site. The Cl2 tank in use was isolated by 2 remote-controlled valves placed in series ((20) liquid Cl2 tank outlet[...]
During the paint fabrication process, a tank containing a mix of minium (red lead) and glycerophthalic resin exploded at 11 pm. The ensuing fire destroyed 2 workshops and both the research and control laboratories; 170 employees were in technical unemployment.[...]
A malicious fire broke out at 4.20 pm in a warehouse with 30,000 m² of covered area over two levels that housed archives and a reefer shed including a decommissioned refrigeration unit containing 5 tonnes of ammonia (NH3). The flame[...]
In the attic of a slaughterhouse, 2.2 tonnes of ammonia (NH3) intended for recycling back to the unit leaked onto a solenoid valve on the low-pressure return circuit of a ground beef freezer. Employees were evacuated for 24 hrs, 40[...]
