Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

Detonators loaded with 160 mg of pentrite and 170 mg of lead azide detonated while preparing for their destruction (or collection).

The technician placed 27 detonators rejected for their appearance flaws in a conducting plastic bag. At the last minute, the technician took the initiative of including the unused detonators rejected by the production machine. He then closed the bag, placed it on the table and stuck on a coloured label in order to identify the mode of destruction.

Detonation occurred while the bag was in his left hand, which was blown off his arm due to the blast and small pieces of debris were also projected at the victim’s face.

The detonation was most likely due to a shock or friction on the pure lead azide that would have escaped from the defective detonators added at the end of the procedure.

According to the experts, this accident revealed a deviation in the procedure for handling defective detonators. Unused detonators should be immersed in a bag of oil and then recovered separately. The operator would offer additional training to the entire workforce on the strict application of all safety guidelines.