In a chemical warehouse, a 1,000-litre IBC containing an inorganic liquid for surface treatment baths was punctured around 12 noon by the forks of a forklift truck as it was being offloaded from a truck. The 10 employees and the truck driver were evacuated to the site’s containment room. The internal contingency plan was initiated at 12:10 p.m. The emergency rescue services set up a security perimeter of 300 m and diluted the toxic and corrosive product with water. They were able to recover the 2,000 litres of liquid waste that had spread onto the unloading docks and external containments using absorbent products. The content of the retention basins were then pumped and the 500 kg of solid waste was placed in drums for disposal. The internal contingency plan was lifted at 5:35 p.m., and the emergency rescue personnel left the site at 6:15 p.m. The Inspection authorities for classified facilities went to the site. Sampling at the piezometers eliminated the possibility of any pollution of the groundwater table.

The puncture of the tank was due to an error by a temporary worker, trained as a forklift driver and employed as such for 3 weeks on site. After unloading 11 IBCs without any problem, he climbed onto the platform ramp, raised by the truck, to unload the last one. In doing so, the forks of his forklift were no longer at the level of the pallet, but at the level of the IBC. One of the forks then perforated the IBC between the metal guards. The facility operator updated the safety instructions regarding the use of handling equipment to include feedback from this accident (the 2nd accident of this type in 20 years of operation). He also provided contact details for services to be contacted in the event of an accident.