Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

A propane leak occurred on a 5 m³ tank located outside the buildings of a food processing plant. At about 10 a.m., a site employee detected the smell of gas near the tank. Liquid was noticed on the ground at the back of the tank. The fire brigade was called at 10:15 a.m. Upon their arrival at the scene, they requested the evacuation of the 206 employees and established a security perimeter. The facility operator called the service provider in charge of propane tanks. Pending his arrival, the fire brigade used a wet cloth to stop the leak. The service provider closed the leaky valve, and the intervention ended at 12:30 p.m. The Inspection authorities for classified facilities were informed.

The leak was due to the incorrect closing of some valves during the filling of the tank the day before the incident. Only the service provider has access to the propane storage, which is located in an enclosure surrounded by a 2 m high fence and locked. The key is available in the guard station. The procedure for unloading a truck is established by the service provider; the site’s personnel are not present during this operation. Safety instructions drafted by the service provider are displayed in the gas storage facility.

The Inspection authorities for classified facilities requested that the operator submit an accident report as well as the compliance report of its propane storage installations, and to specify the organisation implemented to monitor this storage facility. It was also told to provide a copy of the unloading procedure established by the service provider and specify the training implemented with its staff regarding the safety instructions posted at the storage level.