Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

At around 5:15 p.m., odorous vapours were detected coming from a waste recovery canister in a surface treatment plant. The products contained in this container included liquid waste containing acetone and polymerised and non-polymerised gel coat. The 242 employees present were evacuated from the building for 3 hours. The operator noticed a partially melted container with a liquid residue flowing into a retention tank, which he then moved from the workshop using a pallet truck. The workshop was ventilated. The temperature of the drum gradually dropped (from 70 °C to 20 °C after 1 hour). At around 7:00 p.m., the fire brigade conducted surveillance of the area and took atmospheric measurements. Eight employees showed symptoms and were taken to hospital for testing. Production at the plant was stopped for 3 hours.

The cause of the odour was attributed to poor sorting of waste, which led to an exothermic reaction. The operator identified insufficient and inappropriate training of the operators regarding the hazards associated with peroxides. In addition, two rinsing waste containers are present at the base of the machines to limit movement. There were no labels on these containers because they were not resistant to the products. Furthermore, the containers used for the waste were similar to those for peroxides.

Following the accident, the operator modified the internal contingency plan and implemented several actions:

  • awareness-raising among staff regarding the hazards associated with peroxides;
  • creation of a crisis unit to define short-term steps for secure handling of peroxides;
  • monitoring of storage and use locations with checklists of actions to be carried out;
  • machinists must be authorised to use peroxide;
  • installation of water bins for the disposal of rags soiled with peroxide;
  • replacement of the polyethene retaining tanks/trays on the machines (resin/gelcoat) with stainless steel retaining tanks/trays;
  • reassessment of the peroxide waste packaging method.

A fire had occurred on the site 17 days earlier (ARIA 53495).