During start-up of one of the dry cleaning machines operating on a self-service basis, a customer smelled a strong odour and informed the shop manager. Perchloroethylene was seeping onto the floor underneath the machine. The manager shut down the facility, soaked up the solvent with a sponge and died 10 min later. Firefighters arriving on the scene spread absorbent products and ventilated the premises. A quarter-turn bleed valve on the solvent tank had been accidentally left open during a maintenance service call performed by an outside professional. When the machine resumed operations, the circulation pump emptied the tank by projecting a pressurised stream of perchloroethylene (100 litres) outside the retention area. The accident was caused by design flaws on the installation as well as inadequate personnel training.