Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

Fire broke out at 1:40 pm in a metallurgical plant during the scheduled drainage of a rolling mill oil tank in which are imersed heating resistances. The automatic extinction system was activated, yet it proved insufficient to fully extinguish the fire. First responders were able to contain the flames with foam. Organisational dysfunction, combined with equipment defects, caused this accident: the procedure was performed without first shutting off the installation’s electrical power supply, oversized resistances heated the oil beyond its ignition temperature, the safety thermostat on resistances should the tank’s low-level mark be reached malfunctioned. A certified company was called to remove the polluted oil, and emergency response teams pumped the fire extinction foam. Subsequent to this accident, the operator repaired the deficient safety system and implemented a set of procedures that called for shutting off electrical supply to the resistances when draining installations and ensuring the presence of a maintenance technician during interventions in the oil tank room. The operator was also required to modify the automatic extinction system and study the feasibility of eliminating oil preheating or else modifying the type of resistance used.