An explosion occurs around 5 am in a rock wool plant, a production line is in technical shutdown. The operator triggers his POI. Internal rescue intervenes, then supported by firefighters. The intervention ends at 9 am. The operator issues a press release.
During a routine operation, still hot metal residues (T = 800 ° C) from the furnaces came into contact with water when spreading in an uncovered storage area outside. A thermodynamic flash occurs and is manifested by a blast. Projections of incandescent particles initiate several outbreaks, especially in an administrative building of the site located at 180 m which is impacted, via the roof, by a glow block of 16 kg.
Essentially material, the damages amount to 30 k € and are concentrated on the administrative part. Production is not disturbed. The human toll of the accident indicates an employee having twisted his ankle during fire suppression operations. The inspection of the classified installations makes a visit on the 30/10 so that the operator makes him a first analysis of the causes of the accident and a point on the implementation of his SMS (System of Management of the Safety) in the part of this disaster. Following the event, the operator:
- studies the rehabilitation of the water drainage of the storage area (investment request of 300 k €)
- draws up a specific instruction to remove reliquat / water contacts in the future by better preparing and controlling the storage area before unloading
- sensitize agents responsible for spreading operations
- introduces the activity of the loader driver into the list of “risk stations” of the site.
