The 08.27.2015 day, an accident occurs 14:08 hours because of increased temperature detected, deflagration occurring in the stainless steel reactor (capacity 3000 liters) was performing when the corresponding mixture for the manufacture of industrial softening ROQUAT SM 75. The SM 75 ROQUAT finished product (under Regulation 1272/2008 CLP) is a flammable solid (category 2) skin irritant (category 2) and presented specific toxicity effects of drowsiness and dizziness (category 3), according to the Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the company.
The deflagration occurs at the time they are added to the reactor 32 kg of hydrogen peroxide (41% purity) for the bleaching process water. This is done through the manhole which is where you load the reactor.
Causes of the accident: are the LOST OF CONTROL OF REACTION IN THE REACTOR, producing a deflagration, with several causes:
1: A consignment of hydrogenated tallow with anomalous amounts of nickel; Hydrogenated tallow constitutes 60% of the Roquat SM 75 manufactured. By having in the sebum, the oxygenated water added decomposed giving oxygen gas. The presence of oxygen generated at 73-74 ° C (which was the temperature of the reactor at the time of the accident) caused the self-ignition of the isopropanol vapors. The reactor cover was open, but if it had been closed in the place of a blast, an explosion could have occurred, if possible with worse consequences.
2: It was peroxided at 42%, which did not meet the 30% concentration requirements.
3: The manual of the peroxide of violent form, managed to arrive at the electrostatic charges when falling the liquid in the interior.
4: There is no work procedure for the transfer
This door was open and 3 operators of the plant itself were in the vicinity of the reactor, one on the left side (did not suffer major damage), another front (fatal damage) and third in the table of electrical controls on the right reactor (he suffered serious burns). As a consequence the ceiling of the nave is affected by burning fiberglass panels, resulting intact asbestos cement. By the manhole out of the mixing partly it solidifies at room temperature (wax appearance in the form of amorphic pieces).
The fire occurred is smothered with BIEs of the company and fire extinguishers. When they reach the external media (firemen of Arteixo) proceeds to cover the foam product to avoid flammable gas fumeIt is evacuated to other staff of the company at the time of the accident have knowledge. The area of the spill out of the reactor product was washed with pressurized water, waste being treated in own treatment of the company; the remaining material was collected in drums of 50 liters for subsequent treatments by an authorized hazardous waste manager.
- Knowledge of the risks
- Training and information to the workers about the risks of the processes in the dangerous operations.
- Improve the control over raw materials.
