Analysis of the ARIA database shows a sharp increase in NaTech events in French industrial facilities between 2010 and 2019. NaTech accidents are technological events that have been triggered or exacerbated by intense natural phenomena, such as floods, high temperatures[...]
Periods of cold weather are often synonymous with high electricity consumption and technical incidents. They can also cause power supply and telecommunication network outages. An imbalance between electricity supply and demand could happen this winter, generating power outages. Whatever their[...]
Spells of scorching heat always give way to episodes of intense rainfall and what are known as Cévennes rain events. In recent years, France has experienced many rain events that have resulted in flooding of industrial facilities. Although well known,[...]
As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, France intends to develop low-carbon, renewable hydrogen (H2) in industry, energy and transport. Whether for tried-and-tested processes or new applications, the physicochemical properties of H2 can facilitate or complicate[...]
At around 7.40 a.m., at a cement plant, a fire broke out in a concrete-structured building housing several units including one containing 50t of automotive shredder residue (ASR), another containing 200t of sawdust, and a final one believed to be[...]
At 3 p.m., technicians working on a wind farm observed smoke rising from a wind turbine nacelle. They alerted the operator, which shut down the entire farm. The electricity network administrator shut off the HV network. Smoke was visible and[...]
Conveyors or elevators are used in many agricultural and industrial activities. An analysis of the accidents recorded in the ARIA database shows that this type of equipment is regularly involved in accidents involving fire and explosions. The purpose of this summary[...]
The ARIA database contains more than 300 high temperature-related events that have occurred in France. Such events affect all types of industrial facilities and occur throughout the country. This ARIA Flash features a few examples of high temperature-related events and[...]
At around 00.20, a 120m-long barge carrying 2,200t of vinyl chloride (extremely flammable and carcinogenic gas) was damaged during locking. Navigation was stopped along a 10km stretch. A 400m security perimeter was set up and 20 local homes were evacuated,[...]
In a refinery, at around 3.35 a.m., an alarm in the control room informed the operators of a fire in the distilling unit. At around 4.00 a.m., the flames had reached a height of 50 m and had engulfed an area of 2,500 m². The[...]