A container of 120-tonne of waste awaiting destruction at a certified processing centre exploded and ignited around 11:15 am in a paint factory. Activation of the alarm procedure enabled in-house first responders to intervene rapidly by: battling the blaze with a powder extinguisher and using a fire-hose hooked up to the nearest hose cabinet to cool the products in inventory and then the container. Once the fire had been brought under control 10 minutes later, the emergency response crew moved the container to an isolated storage site protected against any soil pollution risk. During this time, some of the workforce evacuated the site, in accordance with guidelines. Upon arriving at the site, external fire-fighters consolidated the safety measures taken by the internal team. Two days before the accident, developmental laboratory technicians had sorted through old samples and raw materials stored in the former ‘Transportation’ Laboratory warehouse in placing 2 tonnes of paint cans intended for destruction onto pallets, while leaving some highly hazardous or toxic chemical substances on the shelves. Guidelines had also been issued to the Head of Shipping destruction of paints to be conducted like for other “ordinary” products, and special measures for storing hazardous products scheduled for separate destruction. To gather these chemical substances, a warehouse worker used a specific disposable container with a resin bottom and deposited it around 10:30 am on top of the stockpile accumulating products tagged for destruction. 45 min later, this container exploded. A schedule of remedial actions was drawn up subsequent to the accident, and a ban was issued on moving any hazardous chemical products as long as the packaging, storage and handling procedures had not been defined. Moreover, the personnel were to receive additional training: presentation and explanation of the new alarm procedure, updated training module devoted to safety and communication managers. Fire-fighting equipment was also expanded (purchase of a spare mobile emulsifier and nozzle fitted with a mixer, plus individual protective gear). The product destruction process was earmarked for improvement and rainwater collection pipes were cleaned.